A new Mandarin Oriental hotel in Beijing, China, which was scheduled to open later this year at the site of new headquarters for the country's state television company, has been severely damaged in a fire.

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has signed a long-term contract to manage the hotel, and has said that it is too early to assess the extent of the damage at the property, which was designed by the Rotterdam-based Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA). According to the Chinese news agency, Xinhua, work on the 30-storey hotel was being carried out by Beijing Urban Construction Company before the fire on 9 February, which was reportedly started when illegal fireworks were set off at the site.

A statement from CCTV, the state television company, said: "CCTV staff responsible for the construction of the new TV complex hired staff to ignite large festive firecrackers outside the building. and caused the fire." Mandarin Oriental, Beijing is set to include more than 200 bedrooms, banquet and meeting facilities, a fitness suite, a salon, and two signature restaurants, as well as a spa, a champagne bar, 25 function rooms and a grand ballroom.

Image: George Apostolidis/Mandarin Oriental