No. 6: Shenzhen, China
Towers 1,000 feet and taller: 1
Towers 700 feet to 999 feet: 12
Tallest: Shun Hing Square, 1,260 feet
The city of Shenzhen, immediately north of Hong Kong, was the primary hub for economic activity between Hong Kong and mainland China when Hong Kong was a British colony. The city's economic success is due in part to its status as a Special Economic Zone--it benefits from a more relaxed economic framework than most of the country.
No. 5: Chicago, Ill.
Towers 1,000 feet and taller: 5
Towers 700 feet to 999 feet: 12
Tallest: Sears Tower, 1,451 feet
New York and Chicago have always battled for skyline supremacy. Currently, Chicago's Sears Tower is the country's tallest building, a title it will lose upon completion of New York's planned Freedom Tower. Not to be outdone, Chicago hopes to construct the Chicago Spire first; it's planned to be 224 feet taller than Freedom Tower.
No. 4: Shanghai, China
Towers 1,000 feet and taller: 3
Towers 700 feet to 999 feet: 18
Tallest: Shanghai World Financial Center, 1,614 feet
The rise of China can is apparent in Shanghai's skyline. A decade ago, the city's Jin Mao Tower was the only building over 700 feet; today, 21 buildings taller than 700 feet dot the skyline. And the current crop of buildings are tiny compared with the planned Shanghai Tower. Expected to be completed in 2014, the tower will climb over 2,000 feet.
No. 3: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Towers 1,000 feet and taller: 8
Towers 700 feet to 999 feet: 17
Tallest: Burj Dubai, 2,684 feet
The most visible consequence of the American thirst for foreign oil is the skyline of Dubai. Oil wealth fueled the construction of the city's enormous skyscrapers. Dubai is now home to the world's tallest building, the Burj Dubai, which is 1,000 feet taller than any other building in the world.
No. 2: Hong Kong
Towers 1,000 feet and taller: 5
Towers 700 feet to 999 feet: 25
Tallest: Two International Finance Centre, 1,362 feet
Hong Kong's skyline was built from the wealth generated by China's incredible size combined with Hong Kong's economic freedom. The Heritage Foundation's 2009 Index of Economic Freedom ranks Hong Kong the freest in the world. Finance towers include the city's tallest building, Two International Finance Centre, and I.M. Pei's famous Bank of China building.
No. 1: New York, N.Y.
Towers 1,000 feet and taller: 4
Towers 700 feet to 999 feet: 31
Tallest: Empire State Building, 1,250 feet
Despite the rise of China and the flood of oil wealth, no skyline matches New York's--with 35 towers over 700 feet. That skyline will only grow more impressive as the new World Trade Center complex is completed in coming years. The Freedom Tower, at the heart of the complex, will be the city's tallest building, at 1,776 feet when completed.
