World
The incredible city with more skyscrapers than any other – 518 more than London
An incredible city with more skyscrapers than any other in the world has a whopping 518 more than London.
With the Tower of London dating back to 1078 and The Shard opening in 2013, there’s no doubt that the London skyline is home to some of the world’s most iconic buildings.
London’s skyline has dramatically changed over the past decade, with the capital now being home to 40 skyscrapers.
However, when it comes to skyscrapers, Hong Kong dwarfs London with an astounding 558 skyscrapers.
There’s even a stark gap between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, the city that ranked second, with only 415 skyscrapers to date, and New York, which rounds up the top three with 319.
The skyline of Hong Kong Island is famed for its unique arrangement, with surrounding mountains and Victoria Harbour complementing the rows of skyscrapers.
The city’s crowded landscape is home to many well-known buildings, from the easily recognisable Bank of China Tower to the International Commerce Centre, the tallest building in Hong Kong and the 13th in the world.
The first five floors of the International Commerce Centre are home to the Elements shopping centre. Here, you can find high-end luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Chaumet.
On the 100th floor is a panoramic observation deck known as the Sky100, offering incredible views of Hong Kong and its harbour. Between the 102nd and 118th floors is the Ritz Carlton Hong Kong, one of the most luxurious hotels in the city.
Central Plaza, the third tallest building in Hong Kong, is triangular and home to the world’s highest church.
Hong Kong is located on mountainous and steep hills, which makes building on flat land more difficult. Therefore, developers have focused on building upwards to maximise land use.
With an overall density of 6,300 people per square kilometre, Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, meaning people can only afford to live in high-rise buildings.
Amazingly, every evening at 8pm over 40 key buildings and skyscrapers on both sides of Victoria Harbour participate in A Symphony of Lights, the synchronised show is the world’s largest permanent light and sound show.
The light show has delighted visitors since its launch in 2004 and is now one of Hong Kong’s top sightseeing attractions.