The History of Skyscrapers in Hong Kong

The first skyscraper in the city Hong Kong was the Shanghai Bank Building built in 1835. The high-rise building was around 70 meters (230 feet) tall and was 13 stored. It actually lasted for over 60 years until it was demolished and later replaced with the HSBC Main Building. During the first part of the last 20th century, high-rise construction was quite limited in the Hong Kong. Starting in the 1970s, Hong Kong went on through a large-scale building construction boom which continues till 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, Central Plaza and Hopewell Centre. An even bigger construction boom began in the year 1998 and is still ongoing. Between the years 2000 and 2008, there were a total of 38 buildings with heights exceeding 200 meters (656 feet) were built. Among these buildings were super tall skyscrapers, including Two International Finance Centre, Nina Tower I and One Island East. After the closure of the Kai Tak Airport in the year 1998, which lifted height restrictions, the Kowloon area also became quite developed. Super tall skyscrapers, almost all over 200 meters (656 feet) tall, such as the Langham Place Office Tower, The Harbourside and Sorrento were constructed.

Hong Kong is the first in the world in greatest number of skyscrapers, with exact 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 Harbor. Each and every night, several skyscrapers along the Victoria Harbor put on a synchronized light show which is also 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.