With the current development, there is an increasing number of luxurious, modern hotels with immense scale around the world. Designated as places that welcome prestigious guests, large hotels have also become attractions that many people are interested in visiting. However, in North Korea, an extremely luxurious hotel has remained a mystery, not hosting any guests for 33 years. This hotel, named Ryugyong, is often associated with the nickname “the hotel of the apocalypse.”
Ryugyong Hotel began construction in 1987 and was initially intended to be the tallest building in the world and a significant achievement for North Korea. It stands at a height of 105 floors, 2.5 times taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza. The hotel covers a floor area of nearly 360,000m2 – a size so large that many have compared it to being able to accommodate the entire Vatican City.
Upon completion, the hotel was projected to have a capacity of up to 3,000 guests. Among the 105 floors, 8 would be designed to rotate, and restaurants would also be built to offer incredible views. At the top of the hotel is a cone-shaped structure that is twice the size of the Great Sphinx. It can be said that the Ryugyong Hotel was expected to become a grand project, significant both in North Korea and globally.
Ryugyong Hotel looks like a giant pyramid.
Construction began in 1987, but after many suspensions and restarts, the hotel has yet to be completed. This has resulted in the hotel being unable to host any guests for the past 33 years.
Currently, from the outside, the hotel resembles a giant pyramid located in the center of the city, with surfaces covered in sparkling glass, giving it a very modern and luxurious look. However, the interior presents a starkly contrasting scene due to the unfinished construction.
Several explanations have been suggested for this, including the building’s enormous height and the choice of materials that may have made construction challenging. Additionally, at various times, funding for construction has posed significant obstacles.
However, who knows, if in the future this hotel is completed, wouldn’t it provide another intriguing destination for travel enthusiasts to explore?
Inside Ryugyong Hotel
Construction of this hotel has faced many difficulties.
