A skyscraper is a continuously furnished building taller than 100 m (330 ft), though the term can be used for lower buildings in cities where tall buildings are less common.
While structures such as TV towers, observation towers, chimneys, wind turbines and bridge pylons might reach similar heights, they are usually excluded, as most levels of these are not used for human activity.
Skyscrapers are mainly used for corporate and government offices, hotels or residences. Many of them have an observatory floor, or a hospitality section at ground level.
Destinations
[edit]Asia
[edit]The continent of most 21st century skyscrapers.
- 1 Guangzhou. This southern Chinese metropolis has 13 buildings over 300 m, including three over 400 m. The tallest structures are the Canton Tower at 604 m and the CTF Finance Center, at 530 m.
- 2 Pudong (Shanghai, China). The Pudong District has many skyscrapers. There are four buildings over 400 m (1320 feet, a quarter mile).
- 3 Taipei 101 (Taipei World Financial Center) (Taipei, Taiwan). The city has other tall buildings, but much the best known is this 101-storey 508-m tower designed to look like a bamboo plant.
Europe
[edit]Europe has few skyscrapers given its population size and density. Among the reasons are regulations of historic city environments, population stagnation since the late-20th century, and a decent supply of high-density buildings of moderate height.
North America
[edit]The birthplace of the skyscraper.