Hong Kong, a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China, is world renown for having one of the world’s greatest skylines. A majority of Hong Kong’s terrain is hilly or mountainous, and with 7 million people living in a 426 square mile region, it is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. To compensate for the lack of space, many of the world’s tallest skyscrapers have been constructed in Hong Kong, one of the leading financial and banking centers in the world. There are 106 towers over 180 meters (591 feet) tall.
Two International Finance Center is Hong Kong’s tallest building. Constructed in 2003, it is 88 stories and 415 meters (1362 feet) tall. It is the world’s seventh tallest building and the third tallest building in China. The 78-story Central Plaza is the second tallest building in Hong Kong, measuring 374 meters (1227 feet) high. Within the Central Plaza is Hong Kong City church, which is the world’s tallest church located within a skyscraper. The 70-story Bank of China Tower, designed by world-renown architect I.M. Pei, at 367 meters (1204 feet) tall is Hong Kong’s third tallest building. Bank of China Tower was the first skyscraper outside of the United States to go over 1000 feet (305 meters) tall. There are 6 finished buildings in Hong Kong that are over 300 meters (984 feet) tall as of the year 2008. No other city in the world can claim that feat.
The first skyscraper in Hong Kong was the Shanghai Bank Building built in 1835. The high-rise building was 70 meters (230 feet) tall and had 13 stories. It lasted for over 60 years until it was demolished and replaced with the HSBC Main Building. During the first part of the 20th century, high-rise construction was fairly limited in Hong Kong. Starting in the 1970s, Hong Kong went on a large-scale building construction boom that continues to this day. The construction boom was especially pronounced during the years 1980-1993, when 22 of Hong Kong’s tallest buildings were built. These included the Bank of China Tower, Hopewell Centre and Central Plaza. An even larger construction boom began in 1998 and is still ongoing. Between the years 2000 and 2008, there were 38 buildings with heights that exceeded 200 meters (656 feet) built. Among these buildings were supertall skyscrapers, including Nina Tower I, Two International Finance Centre and One Island East. After the closure of Kai Tak Airport in 1998, which lifted height restrictions, the Kowloon area also became developed. Supertall skyscrapers, all over 200 meters (656 feet) tall, such as the Langham Place Office Tower, Sorrento and The Harbourside were constructed.
Hong Kong is first in the world in greatest number of skyscrapers, with 228 towers over 150 meters or 492 feet tall, and 7,558 high-rise buildings. The skyline of Hong Kong is considered by many to be the finest in the world, with a great line up of skyscrapers set against the backdrop of Hong Kong’s mountainous terrain and Victoria Harbour. Each night, several skyscrapers along the Victoria Harbour put on a synchronized light show known as A Symphony of Lights.
Hong Kong’s building construction continues with many new development projects in the works, including a waterfront redevelopment, new government buildings, several projects slated for West Kowloon, and the International Commerce Centre, which will be the tallest tower and set to open in 2010.