Six of the world’s 10 tallest buildings completed last year were in China, including the 492-metre-tall Shanghai World Financial Centre.

Among the giants there is one that could hold out hope for a low-carbon future.

The Pearl River Tower, now being erected in Guangzhou, the provincial capital of Guangdong province, is being billed as the most energy efficient superskyscraper ever built.

The 310-metre tower is designed to use half the energy of most buildings of its size.