Cities such as New York, Dubai, and Hong Kong boast impressive skylines that showcase remarkable engineering achievements. Witnessing numerous towering buildings in one city can be an unforgettable experience.
Check out the following list of the ten cities with the most skyscrapers.
10 Chicago, United States, 135 Skyscrapers
Chicago, the third-largest city in America, is known for its impressive skyline of 1,384 high-rise buildings made of stone, iron, and steel. After the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, the city was rebuilt into a modern metropolis with excellent museums, galleries, parks, and vibrant nightlife, making it a popular destination for families and tourists.
Chicago is also famous for being the birthplace of skyscrapers, with the Chicago Temple Building being the first to reach a height of over 150 meters in 1924. Today, the tallest building in the city is the Willis Tower, which stands at 1,451 feet.
9 Chongqing, China, 144 Skyscrapers
Chongqing, located in western and central China, is the country’s largest provincial-level municipality. Its rich cultural heritage makes it an important economic and cultural center along the Yangtze River. Heavy fog envelops the city during spring and autumn, earning it the nickname ‘Capital of Fog.’
With a history of over 3,000 years, it offers a wealth of tourism opportunities. Moreover, 26 buildings in the city exceed a height of 200 meters. Chongqing Nationality Plaza B was the first building to exceed 150 meters, constructed in 1998. The tallest building in the city is Raffles City Chongqing T4N and T3N, standing at 1,163 feet.
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8Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 154 Skyscrapers
Kuala Lumpur is Malaysia’s largest city and is the ceremonial, legislative, and judicial capital. This rapidly growing city is the country’s significant cultural, financial, and economic center. The famous Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur are the world’s tallest twin buildings and are a top tourist destination.
Additionally, the city boasts three of the world’s largest shopping malls. Notable tall buildings in Kuala Lumpur include George Town, Johor Bahru, and Petaling Jaya, with Menara Maybank being the first skyscraper to reach over 200 meters. The current tallest building in Kuala Lumpur is Merdeka 118, standing at a height of 2,227 feet.
7 Tokyo, Japan, 200 Skyscrapers
Often called a city, Tokyo is officially known and governed as a “metropolitan prefecture.” It is Japan’s capital and most populated prefecture, offering a blend of traditional and ultramodern architecture. With over 37.393 million residents, Tokyo is the world’s largest metropolitan area.
The first towering structure in the city was the Kasumigaseki Building, constructed in 1968 and standing over 150 meters tall. The Toranomon Hills building is currently the tallest in the prefecture, rising to 838 feet. The Tokyo Skytree, standing at 2,080 feet, is the world’s second-tallest freestanding structure and provides a stunning panoramic view of the city from its observation point at the top.
6 Shanghai, China, 183 Skyscrapers
Shanghai is quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing cities in the world, thanks to its impressive skyline of skyscrapers. The city experienced its first building boom in the 1920s and 1930s and now boasts the world’s second tallest skyscraper, the Shanghai Tower, only surpassed by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
Of course, with such vibrant nightlife, Shanghai is also called “the city that never sleeps.” The city has a unique cultural and historical significance and is a hub for technology, manufacturing, finance, research, and transportation. The Jin Jiang Hotel, built in 1988, was the first skyscraper in the city to surpass 150m.
5 Guangzhou, China, 188 Skyscrapers
Guangzhou is a dynamic city that blends old and new China. It is one of China’s largest cities and considered one of the nine ‘National Central Cities.’ Though Canton Tower, the tallest structure in Guangzhou, standing at 2,000 ft, may not be considered a building. Additionally, Guangzhou is an excellent shopping destination.
Guangzhou is a hub for foreign traders, merchants, and Cantonese cuisine, which originated in Guangzhou. Guangdong International Building was the first to reach over 150m in 1990, and the Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre now being the tallest building in the city at 1,740 feet.
4 Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 251 Skyscrapers
Dubai is the largest populated emirate among the seven emirates in the UAE. It has a flourishing tourism industry that has contributed significantly to its economy. The city boasts impressive skyscrapers and architecture, including the famous Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building and tallest human-made structure.
The history of skyscrapers in Dubai began with the construction of the Dubai World Trade Centre in 1979, regarded as the city’s first high-rise. Today, the center houses not only the world’s tallest building but also the world’s second-tallest hotel and residence. The Burj Al Arab, built in 1999, was the first building in the city to reach over 150m.
3 New York City, United States, 314 Skyscrapers
New York City, the largest populated city in America, boasts over 7,000 high-rise buildings. Skyscrapers began to rise in the city at the end of the 19th century, mainly concentrated in Midtown and Downtown Manhattan. The city has many nicknames, but “The Big Apple” is the most famous.
New York City has various industries, including fashion, entertainment, technology, research, education, politics, tourism, art, and sports. However, it is best known for its skyscrapers. The Metropolitan Life Tower, built in 1909, was the first to surpass 150m. The tallest skyscraper in the city is One World Trade Center, standing at 1,776 feet.
2 Shenzhen, China, 367 Skyscrapers
Shenzhen, located in Guangdong, China, is a major city and a Special Economic Zone. It is famous for its impressive architecture and large shopping centers. Shenzhen’s rapid growth is due to its special economic zone, which makes it an attractive destination for foreign investors.
Before 1979, no one could have predicted that its small fishing villages would transform into a significant financial and technology hub. Over the next decade, the city erected 300 high-rises. The International Foreign Trade Center, built in 1985, was the first building to surpass 150m. The Ping An Finance Center, standing at 1,965 ft, is currently the tallest skyscraper in the city.
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1 Hong Kong, China, 553 Skyscrapers
Renowned for its high-growth economies, Hong Kong is the leading city amongst the Four Asian Tigers. With 9,000 high-rise buildings, the Hong Kong skyline is the most intriguing in the world. As a financial center, seaport, and Asia’s business hub, Hong Kong houses a colossal population and growing economy.
However, limited land availability has led to the construction of concentrated high-rise buildings and towers. The city’s skyline is the world’s best, with the surrounding mountains and romantic Victoria Harbour complementing the skyscrapers. Jardine House, built-in 1973, was the first building to surpass 150m. The tallest skyscraper in Hong Kong is the 108-story International Commerce Centre (1,588 ft).
