The decision is likely to send ripples through China's financial markets at a time when
authorities are trying to curb a stock market sell-off.
Evergrande shares fell by more than 20% in Hong Kong after the announcement. Trading in the shares
has now been suspended.
China's property sector contributes roughly a quarter of the world's second biggest economy.
Liquidation is a process where a company's assets are seized and sold off. The proceeds can then be used to repay outstanding debts.
However, whether this process is followed may depend on the Chinese government and the liquidation order does not necessarily mean that Evergrande will go bust and collapse.
The case was brought by one of its investors, Hong Kong-based Top Shine Global, in June 2022 which said that Evergrande had not honoured an agreement to buy back shares.
But what they owed is a fraction of Evergrande's total debts.
The vast majority of the money it owes is to lenders in mainland China who have limited legal avenues to demand their money.
Foreign creditors, in contrast, are free to bring cases to court outside mainland China and some have chosen Hong Kong, where Evergrande and other developers are listed, to bring lawsuits against them.