1. Hong Kong, China
Hong
Kong is number one on my list for many reasons: Hong
Kong has a whopping 39 buildings over 200 metres tall. It also
boasts four of the 15 tallest buildings in the world... that's all in one city!
Hong Kong's skyline shows a large selection of
distinct sky-reaching towers, with beautiful night lighting and reflection. This
city exemplifies the post-modern skyscraper and skyline. Finally, the mountain
backdrop makes this skyline (as you can clearly see) the greatest on the planet!
Metro/Urban Population: 6.8
million
2. Chicago, USA
Chicago is the birthplace of the modern
skyscraper. When Chicago built its first steel high-rise in
1885, it was not the tallest structure in the world but the first example of a
new form of engineering that would change nearly every city on earth. Chicago has 17 buildings over 200 metres tall (three of
which are among the top 20 tallest buildings in the world, including the tallest
in North America). Chicago has some of the
finest mid-century architecture and examples of modern skyscrapers.
Metro/Urban Population: 8.5
million
3. Shanghai, China
Not
to be mistaken for a space station, Shanghai is a real city! China's biggest and most advanced city,
Shanghai was
said to be the most cosmopolitan city in the beginning of the 20th century, but
lost its glory during the "Mao era". It is now
quickly regaining its position as one of the biggest economic powerhouses in the
world as well as a showcase of modern architecture. In Shanghai you'll find 18
structures that are over 200 metres tall, one of which is the insanely tall, the
468m downtown Oriental Pearl TV Tower.
Metro/Urban Population: 13.1
million
4. New York City, USA
New York City has one of the densest and most
diverse skylines, with a huge collection of buildings and building styles.
Thanks to Hollywood's obsession with the city, it is also
the most easily recognizable skyline in the world. New York City has an
amazing 44 buildings over 200 metres - the most in the world! Home of the
famous, now destroyed World
Trade Center Towers, the Empire State
building, the Statue of Liberty and the United Nations, New York City is the
financial capital of the western world. Upon the completion of the new
"Freedom
Tower" (built on the old
site of the World Trade Centers), it may rank higher in this list (depending on
how good it looks of course).
Metro/Urban
Population: 21.0 million
5. Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo is the world's most populated city. Its
skyline has a number of unique characteristics that set it apart from other big
city skylines, among them 15 structures at over 200 metres tall (including the
Tokyo
Tower which changes colors
every night). But because of the density and vast size of the city, every corner
appears to have its own skyline. With the height restrictions and the required
red lights that flash atop all mid to tall-sized buildings make the city look
spectacular at night. Tokyo is filled with neon
lighting and unique, contemporary architecture, and like New York City is also often
portrayed in movies for its aesthetic and eye-catching cityscapes. Interesting
fact: Tokyo
houses the world's largest fleet of helicopters to get around town if traffic
gets too crazy.
Metro/Urban Population:
32.0 million
6. Singapore
One
of the best (urban) planned and cleanliest metropolitan cities in the world,
Singapore looks like an architectural
model city come to life. The buildings cannot be higher than 280 metres due to
air traffic control restrictions, but that has added a tall (but not too tall)
and consistent building height and space pattern that makes this skyline unique:
Three buildings are exactly 280 metres tall and 5 others (8 total) stand at just
over 200 metres. The buildings are mostly light-coloured and there is a large
expanse of greenery dotted around the city core. This South-Eastern city is
definitely in a league of its own.
Metro/Urban Population: 3.8 million
7. Toronto, Canada
Toronto is a meeting place, a crossroads of
many cultures and ethnicities. Toronto is
downtown Canada, the biggest city in the
country with a skyline to match. Toronto has 7 structures in its skyline that
stand at over 200 metres, including the astonishingly tall 553 metre, CN Tower,
which is often referred to as the tallest free-standing structure in the world.
While mostly untrue (because there are taller TV masts in the world), the CN
Tower possess the world's highest observation deck, making this city's skyline
one of the most immediately identifiable.
Metro/Urban Population: 5.1 million
8. Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia
This
is probably the most impressive city worldwide that has less than 2 million
residents. Marvelous modern buildings reach the sky here, and while the skyline
is not too dense, it does allow buildings to soar and stand out. Kuala Lumpar
has three of the 25 tallest buildings worldwide, including the tallest twin
buildings, the Pretonos Towers (which are arguably the second and third
tallest overall in the world) as well as the 420 metre Menara Kuala Lumpur Tower.
Metro/Urban Population: 1.5 million
9. Shenzhen, China
What
was a tiny fishing village on the border of Hong
Kong in 1970 is now a buzzing metropolis of over four million
people. With 13 buildings at over 200 meters tall, including the Shun Hing Square
(the 8th tallest building in the world), Shenzen is a marvel of lights after
sunset. You can't help but ask yourself if you are in a video game or in a real
city.
Metro/Urban Population: 4.2
million
10. Seoul, South
Korea
This city's
skyscrapers are divided into many clusters, spread amongst the main businesses
and residential districts. Most of the recent growth in Seoul's skyline, however,
has been of residential towers over 60 storeys high that are shooting up like
blades of grass! There are 10 buildings in Seoul over 200 meters tall and much of the
mid-rise to high-rise structures are lined up in a linear fashion, creating a
"wall" of buildings like no other. Seoul is where the ancient Eastern world meets
the modern West.
Metro/Urban Population:
20.8 million
11. Sao Paolo, Brazil
"What building did you say
they lived in?" Finding it in the largest mass of condensed apartment buildings
anywhere would be like finding a needle in a haystack. Sao Paolo has a
population of over 18 million people! While the buildings are not super tall
(with only a single structure at over 200 meters tall) this skyline is
nevertheless stacked. Sao Paolo has a fleet of over 500 helicopters, the second
largest helicopter fleet in the world.
Metro/Urban Population: 18.3
million
12. Sydney, Australia
Australia's showcase city, Sydney has one of the most
recognizable skylines due to its world-famous harbour, often referred to as the
most beautiful natural harbour in the world. The Sydney Harbour has many bays, inlets and
secondary harbours. It is spanned by the monumental Harbour Bridge, and the Opera House decorates the
shoreline like a white flower. The Sydney skyline is world-class with hundreds of
skyscrapers in the central business district and many more high-rise buildings
in the outlying neighbourhoods. Sydney has 8 buildings over 200 metres
tall.
Metro/Urban Population: 4.2
million
13. Frankfurt, Germany
Certainly one of Europe's most
interesting cities in terms of skylines, Frankfurt is home to five structures that are over 200
metres tall. These modern skyscrapers are marvels compared to those other,
mostly non-existent ones scattered across European cities. The contrast here is
interesting: The city combines low-rise, high-density traditional European
architecture (some of which is over 1,000 years old), with modern towers that
stick out like sore thumbs, but are impressive nonetheless.
Metro/Urban Population: 4.1 million
14. Dubai, United Arab,
Emerites
Is this a mirage in the
Middle East? Seemingly out of nowhere emerges a
city in the middle of a desert. This is Dubai, a city that produces only the best
modern architecture in the world. Already home of the world's tallest all-hotel
building and the tallest all-residential building in the world, AND currently
proposed to build the world's tallest building, this skyline might just leap to
the number 1 spot in the near future. While the skyline is not so dense, each
building is a marvel all on its own. As a skyline it probably can't compete with
the larger cities, however the individual buildings in this city are by far the
greatest examples of modern architectural accomplishments. All seven structures
in this city at over 200 metres tall were built in 1999 or later - that's how
new this city is.
Metro/Urban Population:
1.6 million
15. Guangzhou, China
Guangzhou is a very modern city, yet it is called "the City
of Flowers," as
each of its spectacular skyscrapers is surrounded by grand green spaces and
flower beds. Although it only has four structures at over 200 metres tall, there
are plenty of other high-rises, each displaying a design that stands out in its
own respect. This includes the 391 metre, 80-floor, CITIC Plaza which appears
transparent against the (usually) clear blue sky!
Metro/Urban Population: 4.1 million
