The man behind the new People's Daily headquarters unveils the inspiration behind his controversial design, and promises the finished product will silence critics. Sun Yuanqing reports.

Beijing is full of futuristic buildings, but the new People's Daily headquarters stood out in pictures that caught it from a particular angle, giving it a phallic appearance. Having drawn attention for its shape in April, the building again became an online sensation for the newly plated gold on its surface, an iPhone 5S-like color that makes the building look even more garish.

Despite speculation on social media, Zhou Qi, the architect, remains upbeat, saying he believes the building will be a modest addition to Beijing's CBD that will add character to the area.