Up above the world so high…they aren’t diamonds, but they shine in the sky. These man-made marvels are the true blue epitome of eliteness which make concrete jungles livelier. Spanning the skyline from London to New York, from Russia to China, and all of Asia, one can witness these standout buildings kissing the sky while their captivating architecture compels every passerby to stop, stare and behold the beauty of these mega-structures. This World Skyscraper Day (September 3), let’s shine the spotlight on some of the breathtaking Asian skyscrapers which should definitely be a part of your ‘must see’ bucket list.
Burj Khalifa
The Arabs are leading the skyscraper game as the title of the world’s tallest tower by far, belongs to none other than Burj Khalifa, in Dubai, UAE. In Arabic, ‘Khalifa’ means tower and prior to its inauguration in 2010 it was called as Burj Dubai. It was renamed in the honour of the ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the United Arab Emirates, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The Burj Khalifa is 829.8 m in height (2,722 ft.) and is an international financial hub. Standing high with 211 floors with an impressive 3.3 million square feet area, this king of towers was designed by American architect, Adrian D. Smith.
Shanghai Tower
Head to China if you want to admire the world’s second tallest building and also the tallest in China. Towering at 2,073 feet (632 m), it is also home to the world’s fastest elevator with the blazing speed of 20.5 meters per second, (74 kmph). The Shanghai Tower has 127 floors in total and its unique twisty outer glass facade is the cherry on the cake. The tower gives a stunning panoramic view of Shanghai city and hence, the tower is often seen bustling with travellers.
Makkah Royal Clock Tower
Also known as the Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower, this tower in Mecca, Saudi Arabia is the third tallest building with a height of 581.1 meters (1,906 feet). Since the Makkah tower is located near the holy Great Mosque of Mecca, it caters mostly to pilgrims from across the globe with high end hotel amenities along with an Islamic museum, shopping malls, and two prayer rooms that can accommodate 10,000 people in one go. The structure of the tower strikes a perfect harmony between modern design with a touch of Islamic nuances. It also has the world’s largest clock face.
Ping An Finance Centre
Grabbing the fourth spot, the Ping An International Finance Centre is another head-turner situated in Shenzhen, China. The Chinese 115 storey tower is 1,965 feet tall and, as the name suggests, it is named after the owner company – Ping An Life Insurance Company of China. This aesthetically designed Chinese skyscraper contains 33 double decker elevators to access its 115 floors. The tower was supposed to install an antenna, but due to concerns of flight interference the idea was called-off.
Lotte World Tower
The fifth tallest skyscraper is situated in Seoul, South Korea. It looks like a closed lotus flower from its top view. Apart from refined elegance, the tower is designed in such a way that it can withstand earthquakes of high magnitudes of up to 9 on the Richter scale. The Lotte Tower has 123 floors of which six are underground. At 1,819 feet, it is the fifth tallest building on the global map.
