New York City is undeniably a land of towering skyscrapers, but cities in Asia are quickly taking the lead. Let's just say that megacities in China and Southeast Asia are reaching for the clouds faster than you can say "penthouse views".
According to the latest numbers from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, seven out of the top ten cities with the most skyscrapers are right here in Asia.
Coming in hot at number one is – surprise, surprise – Hong Kong. This sky-high city boasts more than 550 completed skyscrapers, rising from some pretty challenging and hilly terrain. With limited land and soaring demand for space, Hong Kong has been building upwards for decades, and we daresay the skyline here isn't just iconic, it's unstoppable.
In second place is China's tech powerhouse, Shenzhen. It has more than 380 skyscrapers today, a real feat considering it was just a sleepy fishing village in the 1970s. Head to the city's Luohu, Futian, and Nanshan districts to see the highest concentration of skyscrapers in one place.
Hong Kong and Shenzhen stand head and shoulders above the rest (even beating out skyscraper haven NYC in third place), but other Asian cities also stand tall. Guangzhou has the fifth-most skyscrapers in the world, followed by Shanghai (home to the world's third-tallest building, the Shanghai Tower), Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur (now with the second-tallest building on the planet, the Merdeka 118), and Wuhan.
This ranking only counts buildings over 150 metres – which is around 40 storeys minimum. So no, your condominium probably doesn't count. Either way, if you want to see the future of urban design – stacked, sleek, and sky-bound – Asia's your best bet.
Cities with the most skyscrapers in the world:
- Hong Kong
- Shenzhen, China
- New York City, United States
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Guangzhou, China
- Shanghai, China
- Tokyo, Japan
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Chicago, United States
- Wuhan, China
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