Prefabricated modular construction, working like Lego bricks, is booming in Shenzhen
In Shenzhen, Guangdong Province in southern China, prefabricated modular construction — operating on the principle of Lego bricks — is developing rapidly, significantly reducing overall construction time.
When urban neighbourhoods grow at a speed comparable to a child's game of building blocks, traditional notions of construction timelines and labour intensity change forever. Modular construction is not just a technology but a new philosophy: a building is assembled like a construction set, where each part is already ready for use. This approach not only speeds up the process but also reduces the environmental burden, making construction cleaner and quieter. In an era of urbanisation and climate challenges, this is becoming not just an advantage but a necessity.
Under this approach, modular building blocks are manufactured on an assembly line, with walls, pipes, wiring and interior finishes completed in the workshop. The finished blocks are then transported to the construction site for assembly. Lifting a single module from the ground to its installation position takes only about 20 minutes. After installation, workers only need to secure the screws and connect the cables — and the floor is ready.
“Construction used to take two or three years, but now it can be completed in just a few months,” said Chen Qinghai, a worker involved in lifting modular blocks.
From module lifting to precise installation, it takes an average of two days to assemble one floor of a building using such prefabricated modules. A 16‑storey building consists of 298 modules. From the first lift to the building being ready for handover, the entire process can be completed in about 120 days, cutting construction time by 60 per cent compared with traditional methods.
“We can lift up to ten modular blocks every day. Compared with traditional construction sites, the working environment is cleaner, the impact on surrounding areas is much smaller, and the overall construction schedule is short and fast,” said Chen.
To date, more than 150 million square metres of prefabricated buildings have been constructed in Shenzhen, accounting for more than 64 per cent of all new projects started in 2026.
The rapid development of China’s prefabricated construction industry has received strong government support. According to a notice issued by Chinese authorities in 2025, city and district governments should promote new industrial construction methods such as prefabricated structures and intelligent technologies, and establish long‑term support mechanisms for the green and low‑carbon transformation of the construction sector. Exports of prefabricated buildings from China have also grown rapidly in recent years, rising from $1.47 billion in 2015 to approximately $4.34 billion in 2025. In the first quarter of 2026, this figure continued to grow, increasing by 45 per cent year‑on‑year, according to data from the General Administration of Customs of China.
As CCTV+ reports, modular construction in Shenzhen is becoming an example of how innovation and government support can transform an entire industry. Shorter timelines, resource savings and reduced environmental impact are making this method increasingly sought after not only in China but also abroad. In the coming years, further growth in exports of Chinese modular technologies can be expected, which will strengthen the country's position as a leader in green construction and industrial efficiency.
