City Jewels: 40+ Incredibly Tall Buildings That Dominate Urban Skylines

Both in movies and in real life, you may have noticed that most tall buildings possess a particularly glamorous and almost enchanting vibe. If you look at them from far enough, they almost look like they’re tearing through the clouds.

Now, when we talk about the tallest buildings in the world, they are all remarkably attractive, with people coming from far to glance at these artificial wonders. Whether it’s their shape, the stories behind their designs, or just their height, there’s always something about them that we are all drawn to.

In this listicle, we’ve listed the peaks of architectural minds of our time. They are all spread out across the world, so chances are, you’ve probably seen some of them up close. Read on to find out if we featured your faves.

Taipei 101

The Taipei 101 is a 508-meter tall building. From the name you might have deduced, it’s located in Taiwan’s capital, Taipei. Before the Burj Khalifa, it boasted the title of the world’s tallest skyscraper. It still holds the ‘tallest’ title, but only in Taiwan.

The construction cost of this building amounted to $1.895 billion. Fun fact; it is the tallest building built in an earthquake zone since it’s just 200 meters away from a major fault line. Not to worry, though; it can resist a 9.0 earthquake.

Shanghai World Financial Center

This building stands 492 meters tall. The construction took eleven years, and it opened in 2008. The approximate cost for the entire building to be completed was about $1.2 billion. Looks like all these skyscrapers need nothing short of a billion to get done.

It is a mixed-purpose building with shopping malls, offices, observation decks, conference rooms, and hotels. The Park Hyatt hotel occupies the 79th to the 93rd floors, making it the third-highest hotel in the world. It has 174 rooms and suites.

International Commerce Centre

Looks like Asia has some kind of monopoly in this game! Located in Hong Kong, the International Commerce Center is a 108-story skyscraper that stands 484 meters tall. The building is Hong Kong’s tallest and the country’s only building with more than 100 floors.

Construction took eight years, and it opened in 2011. The building mostly contains office space, but it also has an observatory deck on the 100th floor. The floors above contain multiple five-star restaurants. It is the twelfth-tallest building in Asia, right after Shanghai World Financial Center.

Lakhta Center

Located in Lakhta, Russia, this uniquely designed building has over 80 stories and a height of 462 meters. It is the tallest building in Russia and also in all of Europe. Its construction started in 2012 and ended in 2019.

Saint Petersburg’s Lakhta Center holds a few more records. It is the northernmost skyscraper, and if you notice the images, it is a building that is twisted by design. This skyscraper is also the second-tallest twisted building in the world!

Vincom Landmark 81

This is Vietnam’s pride and joy. Found in Ho Chi Minh City, it is a skyscraper with a height of 461.2 meters. It is also the second-tallest building in all of Southeast Asia and is owned by one of the country’s prominent real estate companies.

The stunning skyscraper houses several conference areas, high-end apartments, retail spaces featuring luxury brands like Rolex and Armani, hotels, bars, and even a multi-story observation deck. It took around three years to complete before it opened its doors in 2018.

Central Park Tower

This stunning wonder is a 472.4-meter-tall residential skyscraper found in the Big Apple. It is unanimously ranked as the tallest primarily residential building. Additionally, it is the second tallest building in the city and in all of the United States.

Construction took five years, and it was opened in 2020. The cost, as you can imagine, was no joke. It went up to a whopping $3 billion. Can you guess the price of a duplex penthouse over here? Well, according to a recent listing, it’s around $175 million!

Changsha IFS Tower T1

Located in Changsha, China, the Changsha IFS Tower T1 is one of a pair of skyscrapers. Its height is 452.1 meters, while the height of the second tower is 315 meters. That said, it’s considered the tallest in the province of Hunan, China.

It is a 95-story skyscraper that opened in 2018 and had been under construction since 2013. Most of the area is office space. The tower has been cleverly designed in such a way that it looks more complex and reduces the glare for the offices inside it.

Suzhou IFS

It’s a bit odd, but doesn’t this building look like a tower fan? It’s breathtaking, nonetheless. Located in Suzhou, China, Suzhou IFS is a 450-meter-tall skyscraper. Undoubtedly, with that height, it is the tallest building in Suzhou. The building opened up in 2019 and had been in the works since 2012.

The Suzhou IFS is a massive skyscraper with offices and apartments. If you Google its images, you’ll be able to find images taken from a distance of 60-70 kilometers! This is the only building prominently visible from that distance. Supertall skyscrapers indeed stand out!

Shanghai Tower

Located in Shanghai, this imposing structure stands 632 meters tall. It is a 128-story building that is considered China’s tallest and a legend among its equally impressive peers. Its construction took almost six years before finally opening its doors in 2015.

The construction cost of this massive building was a whopping $2.4 billion. Imagine getting a view of the city from this building’s top floor, which is at a height of 1,927 ft! We would definitely pay to see that! Simply breathtaking.

Burj Khalifa

This building needs no introduction. The Burj Khalifa is a stunning architectural wonder found in the UAE. With a staggering height of 829 meters, this building is the world’s tallest. Its construction took a little more than 5.5 years, and it opened in 2010.

The construction of this building cost $1.5 billion, which is a bit cheaper than we thought it would have been. As you would expect, staying in this building costs a lot, with rooms ranging from $600 to $2,000 and suites ranging from $10,000 to $20,000.

Makkah Royal Clock Tower

This intriguing building is the central hotel tower in the Abraj Al Bait (Clock Towers) in Mecca. Standing 601 meters tall, this building is the fourth-largest in the world, and it is only 300 meters away from the Great Mosque of Mecca.

The construction of all the buildings took around nine years, and they were opened in 2012. The cost of construction went up to $15 billion. It is essentially a 120-story building with a gigantic clock on the top and an astronomy exhibition behind the clock.

Lotte World Tower

Located in Seoul, the capital city of South Korea, the Lotte World Tower is a 120-story skyscraper that is 554.5 meters tall. It is the structure that holds the title of ‘tallest’ in South Korea and currently stands in sixth place among the world’s tallest.

The construction of this building took around six years before opening in 2017. Its approximate construction cost was $2.5 billion. The hotel also has a luxury residential bloc known as Signiel Residence, and the cost of a unit here is around $25.7 million!

Ping An Finance Center

This is a 599.1-meter-tall skyscraper. It is the fifth-tallest in the world and the second-tallest in China, which is saying a lot. Located in Shenzhen, it is an office block that also holds the record of having the highest observation deck at 562.1 meters.

Its construction took around seven years, and the estimated cost was around $1.5 billion. Another intriguing tidbit is that the building has 80 elevators! Also, as of 2019, there is low occupancy here, with around 30% of the office space remaining empty.

One World Trade Center

This historical building was earlier known as the Freedom Tower. It almost epitomizes the saying about phoenixes rising from the ashes because that’s essentially what it did. Located in the Big Apple, the One World Trade Center is North America’s tallest structure.

This building stands 541.3 meters tall. As most of you know, the first World Trade Center building opened in 1972 but was sadly destroyed during the 9/11 attacks. The new one opened in 2015, and the construction cost almost $4 billion.

Tianjin CTF Finance Centre

This one is bound to always leave an impression on you. The Tianjin CTF Finance Centre is a special building that holds the peculiar record of being the world’s tallest skyscraper, with less than 100 floors. And honestly, it has a very unique look!

The construction of this building started in 2013 and was finished in 2019. It has a very special design. The effect of the design is such that during daylight, it refracts the colors of the sun, displaying various colors, and at night, the top of the tower glows like a diamond!

Citic Tower

Also known as China Zun, this 109-story skyscraper stands 527.7 meters tall. It is located in Beijing, and its construction took around six years to complete. The supertall building serves as office space for its owners and a few tenants.

This building also has a very special design. If you look at its images, you will see that the waist of the building is much thinner than the bottom and the top of the building. China indeed has a lot of fascinating tall buildings!

Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre

Guangzhou is home to this fantastic 530-meter-tall skyscraper. Also known as East Tower, the building opened in 2016, and its construction cost around $222 million. It is the world’s eighth-tallest building. Clearly, if skyscrapers are your thing, China is the place to be!

It is a 111-story building that is used for mixed purposes. The place has a shopping mall, office space, apartments, and even a hotel. Furthermore, it houses the world’s fastest elevators. These powerful machines can cover 21 meters in a second!

Dabaihui Plaza

Dabaihui Plaza, also known as Shenzhen Center, is a supertall skyscraper with a height of 375.6 meters. The construction of this 70-story building lasted for a good nine years, from 2012 to 2021. In addition to ‘Dabaihui Plaza,’ this building has many more names!

Even with that height, this building is still the seventh-tallest in the city of Shenzhen, which is the global center for tech and research in China. So, you can imagine the number of supertall skyscrapers in other big cities and provinces in the entire country!

Central Plaza

Located in Wan Chai in Hong Kong, Central Plaza is a 78-story skyscraper that has been open since 1992. It was under construction from 1989, and from its opening to 1996, it was the tallest building in all of Asia, with a height of 374 meters.

Fast forward to today, it is the thirty-sixth-tallest building in all of Asia. That’s a lot of skyscrapers since 1996! It is also Hong Kong’s third-tallest building. Located in the city’s business district, most of its area has been dedicated to office space.

Dalian International Trade Center

With a height of 370.2 meters, the Dalian International Trade Center is another mixed-use supertall skyscraper in China. It is an 86-story building that was built between the years 2003 and 2017. After that the building was finally inaugurated in 2019.

China is leading in this area, as it is the country with the highest number of skyscrapers in the world. It has 1400 buildings that are taller than 150 meters! It also has 50 supertall skyscrapers, out of which 11 exceed the 450-meter mark.

Qingdao Hai Tian Center

The Qingdao Hai Tian Center, also known as the Haitian Center Tower 2, is a skyscraper located in Qingdao, China. Although it has a seemingly average height compared to others on our list (368.9 meters), it is still among the 50 tallest buildings in China.

The building was under construction between 2016 and 2021 and is the tallest building in Shandong Province. Most of the area has been allotted to offices and hotels. Aside from the 73 floors above the ground, the building has 5 lower levels below.

Bank Of America Tower

The Bank of America Tower is a 365.8-meter tall skyscraper located in New York City. Also known as 1 Bryant Park, it has an area of 2.1 million square feet, most of which is occupied by the Bank of America.

Its construction started in 2004, and at a construction cost of $1 billion, its inauguration was in 2009. With all these facts, you should also know that this skyscraper has been charged with multiple fines due to carbon neutrality violations.

Torre Petronas 1 And 2

Malaysia is known for a lot of beautiful things, and the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur happen to be one of the country’s main tourist attractions. These twin towers are 451.9 meters tall, making them the tallest twin skyscrapers in the world.

They were inaugurated back in 1999, and till 2003, they were the tallest skyscrapers in the world. Most of the area inside the building has been dedicated to office space, with an observatory deck at one of the topmost floors.

Gevora Hotel

The Gevora Hotel is the world’s tallest hotel. The building was under construction for 12 years and opened its doors to customers in 2018. This beautiful skyscraper is located along one of the most famous streets in the ever-beaming city of Dubai.

With its unique status as the world’s tallest hotel, it stands at 356m. Its cost of construction was less than 500 million AED (approx $136.1 million). Significantly less than most of the buildings on our list. If you visit Dubai, you must include a stay at this hotel if possible!

Emirates Tower One

With a height of 354.6 meters, Emirates Tower One, also known as Emirates Office Tower, is a 54-story office building connected to the Jumeirah Emirates Tower Hotel, which is a 56-story building through a retail boulevard. Just a single glance confirms that it is, indeed, a special building.

Building started in 1996 and went on for about 4 years. These connected skyscrapers are among the most renowned in the world, and they also have a highly distinctive look, as you can see! It is the third-largest hotel worldwide.

AON Center

This gleaming skyscraper was formerly known as the Amoco Building. Made at a cost of $120 million, this building opened way back in 1973. It has 83 floors, and it has a height of 346.3 meters, making it the fourth-tallest building in Chicago.

As the name suggests, this skyscraper is the headquarters of Aon, a consulting firm. It is also one of the two headquarters for Kraft Heinz, one of the USA’s biggest and most famous food MNCs. Interestingly, back when they completed it, it was the fourth-tallest worldwide.

Comcast Technology Center

Under construction since 2013, completed in 2018, and built at a cost of $1.5 billion, this skyscraper is the tallest in Philadelphia. Located in Center City, the Comcast Technology Center is a 60-story building that has a height of 342 meters.

This skyscraper is the headquarters of Comcast, the USA’s largest telecommunications and media conglomerate. The top floors of this building also have a hotel that’s considered the highest in the USA! The lower floors are rented out to retail spaces.

Zifeng Tower

Located in the province of Nanjing in China, Zifeng Tower is a 450-meter-tall skyscraper. It is an 89-story building that was under construction since 2005 and was inaugurated in 2010. The cost of the construction of Zifeng Tower was around $719 million.

It is the tallest skyscraper in the area. The skyscraper is multipurpose, with retail and office spaces till floor 41. A hotel and multiple restaurants occupy the area from floor 49 to floor 71. Above this floor is an observatory deck.

The Exchange 106

The Exchange 106 is one of the tallest buildings in Malaysia. Located in Kuala Lumpur, it has a height of 453.6 meters, surpassing the Petronas Twin Towers by a mere 1.7 meters. Judging by the looks of it, the structure has a very sleek finish.

Previously called Signature Tower, it is one of Malaysia’s tallest buildings currently. It is built in what is considered Malaysia’s banking and financial capital. The ‘106’ in the name hints at the number of floors found within this massive skyscraper!

Wuhan Center Tower

This supertall skyscraper stands 443.1 meters tall. Located in Wuhan, it is considered the second-tallest building in the country. Its construction started in 2011, and its inauguration was in 2019. Despite its impressive height, the tower only has 88 stories.

Like many skyscrapers on this list, the Wuhan Center Tower is also a multipurpose building. It has residential spaces and even office spaces. The tower also has five-star hotels in it. This building alone gives the locality a very posh look.

Canton Tower

Skyscrapers already have a very majestic look, but even among them, the Canton Tower has got to be one of the most beautiful-looking skyscrapers that we have on this list. It is located in Guangdong, China, and is 604 meters tall.

Its construction lasted from 2005 to 2009, and it opened up in 2010. The construction cost of this 112-story building was around $450 million. Also, unlike other skyscrapers on our list, it was built for both recreational purposes and TV broadcasting. The antenna at the top is undoubtedly the highlight.

China Resources Tower

As you read along, you will realize that a lot of the entries on this list are from China. Located in Shenzhen, the China Resources Tower is a skyscraper that stands 392.5 meters tall. It is the headquarters of China Resources, a Chinese conglomerate.

Also known famously as the Spring Bamboo, this building opened in 2018 after being under construction since 2012. The conical shape is indeed unique, as it almost makes the skyscraper look like a new bamboo shoot. That’s where the name comes from!

Empire State Building

This one is historic. Construction started in 1930, and it took about a year to finish. Hard to believe, considering how long it maintained the title of being the world’s tallest. It was inaugurated in 1931 and reigned as the world’s top jewel for about four decades.

The Empire State Building stands about 381 meters tall, but if you include its antenna, it has a height of 443.2 meters. What was once the world’s tallest building is the seventh-tallest building in New York today. How times have changed!

The St. Regis Chicago

The St. Regis in Chicago is a 362.9-meter tall skyscraper that opened very recently, in 2020, after being under construction since 2016. It is a 101-story building that holds a very special record as the tallest building ever designed by a woman!

The construction cost of this skyscraper went up to a billion dollars. It is primarily meant for luxury housing and hotel rooms. Condos over here can cost you anywhere from $840,000 to $18.5 million! It has 393 condos and about 191 hotel rooms.

Al Hamra Tower

Located in Kuwait City, which is the capital of Kuwait and also its largest city, the Al Hamra Tower is a skyscraper with a height of 412.6 meters. If there’s one thing we would say struck us right away, it’s that this building has some cool lights!

The Al Hamra Tower is the tallest building in this Asian nation. Building began in 2005, and it was officially opened in 2011. The cost of construction of this skyscraper was about $500 million, and most of it is commercial office space.

Tokyo Skytree

The Tokyo Skytree is a supertall skyscraper that is mainly used for broadcasting and observational purposes. Located in Sumida, Tokyo, the height of this building is 634 meters, making it the third-tallest structure in the world. It is Japan’s tallest structure.

The building was inaugurated in 2012 after being under construction since 2008. If you see the skyscraper at night, you’ll be able to witness its beautiful illumination pattern, one in blue, which represents style, and the other in purple, representing elegance and refinement!

Willis Tower

Located in Chicago, Willis Tower is a 110-story and 442.1-meter skyscraper. It has been among Chicago’s most popular destinations since its opening in 1973. After its completion, it was the world’s tallest structure, and it remained that way for about 25 years.

Willis Tower is extremely famous for its super-high Skydeck observation deck, which gets around 1.7 million visitors on a yearly basis! It is also one of Chicago’s premier corporate office buildings, as it is home to more than 100 companies.

KK100

KK100 was formerly known as Kingkey Finance Tower. Located in Shenzhen, China, it is a 441.8-meter-tall skyscraper whose construction cost was about 785 million dollars. Opened in 2011, the 98-story building comprises multiple hotels and a lot of office space.

Designed by TFP Farrells, KK100 is the tallest structure by a British architect. The famous St. Regis Hotel occupies 25 floors of the main tower from the 75th going up. In addition to that, it is said to be China’s slimmest buildings.

One Vanderbilt Avenue

Located in New York City, One Vanderbilt Avenue is a 427-meter-tall skyscraper and business center that opened in 2020. Most of the building is meant for office space, but it also has a bank branch lobby and is home to a very famous restaurant – Le Pavillon.

The building had been topped out by 2019, but its opening was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its construction cost went up to $3.3 billion. Just like the Skydeck in Chicago, this skyscraper also has an observation deck with glass boxes!

Merdeka 118

Located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the Merdeka 118 is a 118-story mega-tall skyscraper that has a staggering height of 678.9 meters. This majestic structure is the world’s second tallest after the imposing Burj Khalifa. Asia really didn’t come to play!

It is not only the tallest building in Malaysia but also in all of Southeast Asia. The Merdeka 118 is a mixed-purpose building with a shopping complex, hotels, an observatory deck, housing space, and office space. Its estimated inauguration date is June 2023!

Marina 101

Marina 101 is among the UAE’s most famous skyscrapers, and Dubai has a lot of skyscrapers! It has 101 stories, and it stands 425 meters tall. It is also the UAE’s second tallest, right after the tallest building in the world, Burj Khalifa.

It has five restaurants, several residential apartments, a club lounge, and a lot more. From the looks of it, with so many high-rise buildings around it, it feels as if there must be a lot of neighbors around for the residents of this building!

432 Park Avenue

432 Park Avenue is among New York’s most significant structures. It is a 425.7-meter-tall residential skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan. This building is known to have one of the most expensive housing spaces in all of New York City, with units selling for tens of millions of dollars.

After its completion in 2015, it was cheered and ranked as one of the tallest residential buildings worldwide. Today, it is the third-tallest residential building in the world and the sixth-tallest in the USA. Its construction cost was $1.25 billion.

Trump International Hotel & Tower

The famous Trump International Hotel & Tower is located in Downtown Chicago. At an impressive height of 423.2 meters, it is a 100-story structure that is also among the tallest Trump towers. Even if you have never been anywhere near Chicago, we’re almost certain you’ll recognize it.

It has retail spaces, hotels, spas, condos, and a lot more. The building opened in 2009, and its total construction cost was $847 million. Trump International Hotel & Tower also ranks among one of the largest residential buildings in the world.

30 Hudson Yards

Also known as the North Tower, 30 Hudson Yards is a supertall skyscraper that is 387.1 meters tall. Located near the famous Hell’s Kitchen in New York City, it is the eighth-tallest building in the USA and the sixth-tallest in New York City.

Most of it is dedicated to office space and retail space, and like most supertall skyscrapers, it also has an observatory deck. A large portion of the office space is occupied by huge companies like Facebook and multiple television studios like CNN.

Shun Hing Square

The Shun Hing Square is a 384-meter tall skyscraper in Shenzhen, China. It was the tallest building in all of China after its completion in 1996 until the CITIC Plaza came up the following year. This magnificent structure is sometimes referred to as Di Wang Tower.

Shun Hing Square holds plenty of unique records. It is considered the tallest building in the world, with less than 70 floors (it has 69 floors), and is also the tallest structure in China that has been made only with steel.