Taipei is the capital of Taiwan, and its metropolitan area of Greater Taipei is the largest in the country, with a population of over 7 million as of 2019. Greater Taipei, hereafter simply known as Taipei, includes the municipalities of Taipei and New Taipei City, with the former being an enclave of the latter. As of 2025, Taipei contains 39 buildings above 150 metres (492 feet) in height, eight of which are taller than 200 m (656 ft). It is among the largest skylines in East Asia outside of China.
Taipei's skyline has a relatively early history by Asian standards. The first building in the city to surpass 150 m in height was the Shin Kong Life Tower, which was completed in the district of Zhongzheng in 1993 and is 244.8m (803ft) tall. This was followed a year later by the twin skyscrapers of Far Eastern Plaza in Daan. The focal point of the skyline would shift to Xinyi with the completion of the 101-storey Taipei 101 in 2004, which Taipei's skyline is still famous for today. The supertall skyscraper rises 508 metres (1,667ft), and is known for its distinctive postmodernist architectural style, which evokes a traditional Asian pagoda. Taipei 101 surpassed the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur to become the world's tallest building, a title it held until 2010. It remains the tallest building in Taiwan, and is currently Asia's 6th tallest building and the world's 10th tallest building.
The construction of new skyscrapers rose during the 2010s, with an increasing number of skyscrapers, primarily office towers, being built in Xinyi, as well as more residential skyscrapers throughout New Taipei. Both trends have continued into the 2020s. The district of Linkou, which was relatively rural until the 2010s, has seen an influx of skyscrapers and high-rises owing to high population growth. A further seven skyscrapers are under construction in Taipei as of 2025, including the Taipei Twin Towers, consisting of two skyscrapers in Zhongzheng. The tallest will reach a height of 369 m (1,210 ft), becoming the city's second supertall skyscraper and second tallest building.
Partly owing to the surrounding hilly terrain, Taipei's cityscape of the city is characterized by an abundance of residential high-rises throughout its urban area. The tallest buildings in Taipei are mainly concentrated in the central business district of Xinyi Planning District within Xinyi, and to a lesser extent, the business districts of Banqiao and Xinzhuang in New Taipei, and the traditional city centre of Zhongzheng District. However, skyscrapers can also be found in Daan, Linkou, Shilin, Xizhi, Zhongshan, and the northern seaside district of Tamsui. In addition, shorter high-rises are common in almost every district, resulting in a polycentric skyline.
Following the Chinese Civil War, the Republic of China was confined to the island of Taiwan. Taiwanese architects in the late 1940s focused on “de-Japanization” and “re-Sinicization” of Taiwan’s urban landscapes, with new buildings drawing influence from tradtional Chinese architecture, particularly those of the Ming and Qing dynasties.[3] One of the first high-rises to be built in Taipei is the 14-storey main building of the Grand Hotel. Inspired by the Hall of Supreme Harmony in Beijing, it became Taiwan's tallest building upon completion in 1973, at 87 metres tall.[4] From the mid-1970s, commercial high-rise buildings and apartments began to appear, especially on Dunhua Road. Rapid urbanization and economic growth contributed to the growth of taller buildings; the Grand Hotel was overtaken by the First Commercial Bank Building in 1981, then by the Taiwan Power Building in 1983, the first building in Taiwan to exceed 100 m (328), housing the headquarters of the Taiwan Power Company. While the prior two buildings were built in the traditional city centre within Zhongzheng, the next record holder for the city's tallest building, TWTC International Trade Building, would be in the Xinyi Planning District, which had been a planned area for a new central business district since 1976.
1990s
Taipei 101, seen under construction in 2003
Taipei's skyline grew considerably in height in the 1990s, particularly so with the Shin Kong Life Tower, the first building in Taiwan to exceed 150 m (492 ft) when it was completed in 1993. Besides serving as the headquarters of the eponymous Shin Kong Group, it hosted an observation deck on the 46th floor, which cost NT$120 and became popular with tourists.[5] A year later, the Far Eastern Plaza, a twin skyscraper complex in Daan District, was built along the line of high-rises along Dunhua Road, a few blocks south of where Tuntex Tower had been built in 1990. Far Eastern Plaza are still the tallest buildings in Daan and the tallest twin towers in Taipei today. One of Taipei's earliest residential skyscrapers, Tuntex Highrise Building, was completed in 1998, becoming the tallest building in New Taipei at the time.
In 1997, planning began for a new skyscraper to be built in Xinyi near the city hall, an initiative conceived by then mayor of Taipei (and later President of Taiwan) Chen Shui-bian. Originally planned as a 66-storey building, the number of floors was increased to 101 as each planned tenant wanted to be in the main building. Construction on what would become Taipei 101 began in 1999, undeterred by the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.[6]
2000s
Even as recently as 2014, Taipei 101 is noticeably more isolated in Xinyi compared to today.
Taipei 101 topped out in 2003, and the building was completed in 2004, becoming the tallest building in Taiwan, Asia, and the world at a height of 508 m (1,667 ft), surpassing the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by over 50 m (164 ft).[7] The building also broke several other records, such as containing the world's fastest lift[8] and the largest, heaviest, and tallest tuned mass damper,[9] to counterract seismic risks. Few new skyscrapers were completed in the 2000s, with the only other one in the city of Taipei being the Uni-President International Tower, which was completed in 2003—a year before Taipei 101. Until W Hotel was built in 2011, Taipei 101 was one of only two skyscrapers in Xinyi above 150 m (492 ft), being over three times taller than the next tallest building in the district.
2010s
A cluster of skyscrapers in Banqiao in 2015
While not surpassing Taipei 101 in height, Taipei added a considerable number of skyscrapers during the 2010s, with many being built further from the central areas of Taipei, mainly in various districts across New Taipei. A cluster of high-rises had emerged around Banqiao Station throughout the 2000s, with developments such as the Panhsin Twin Towers (2009) and the Far Eastern Mega Tower (2013) forming new peaks in that cluster. Further north in Banqiao, the four-tower Neo Sky Dome residential complex was completed in 2010. Chicony Electronics Headquarters, serving as the headquarters of the namesake electronics manufacturer, became the tallest building in Sanchong in 2013 at 181 m (594 ft). In Xinzhuang, Farglory 95rich became the districts tallest building in 2017 at 184 m (604 ft), anchoring the later development of Xinzhuang Sub-city Center in the late 2010s and 2020s.
To the far east of Taipei's built-up area, the Farglory U-Town complex of four skyscrapers was completed in 2013, becoming the tallest buildings in Xizhi; the district is a relatively low-rise area otherwise. Other districts that received their first skyscraper above 150 m (492 ft)—and hence a new tallest building—include Zhongshan, with the Yihwa International Complex in 2014; Shilin, with Huaku Sky Garden in 2015; and the northern seaside district of Tamsui, with The Crystal Plaza in 2013. On a shorter scale, Yonghe has also gained more residential high-rises, with The Grand Twins (三輝雙子星), built in 2019, as a new tallest.[10]
Meanwhile, the skyline of Xinyi continued to grow. The tallest new building in Taipei during the entire decade was Taipei Nan Shan Plaza, the city's current third tallest building, constructed by and named for Nan Shan Insurance. Other commercial buildings like Hua Nan Bank Headquarters and Cathay Landmark also helped to fill the Xinyi skyline around Taipei 101. In addition, while not taller than 150 m, the residential high-rse Tao Zhu Yin Yuan has earned praise for its twisting form.[11] Elsewhere, Kee Tai Zhongxiao would become only the second skyscraper above 150 m (492 ft) in Zhongzheng, after Shin Kong Life Tower.
New additions to Xinyi in the 2020s have filled out its skyline, most notably with The Sky Taipei in 2022, a hotel that is the city's second tallest building at 280 m (920 ft); two more significant developments are Fubon Xinyi A25 (2022) and Four Seasons Hotel Taipei (2025). Zhongzheng's skyline will undergo a major transformation with the Taipei Twin Towers, two buildings that are planned to be 369 m (1,211 ft) and 289 m (948 ft) tall. Currently under construction, the taller building will be Taipei's second supertall skyscraper. The complex is meant to revitalize the area around Taipei Main Station.[12] Completion is expected in 2027.[13]
So far, the decade has also seen the spread taller residential high-rises to even more districts of Taipei and New Taipei. The twin skyscrapers of He-huan Landmark Towers, built in 2025, are now the tallest buildings in Xindian. The coastal district of Bali finished its tallest building, the 22-storey Kingdom Longjing, in 2022. Neihu received its current tallest building, The Diamond (長虹雲端科技大樓) in 2021, rising to 30 stories and 136 m (447 ft).[14] Similarly, while not as built-up as other districts in Taipei, Songshan has also been getting taller with the completion of the 24-storey Sunrise Plaza (揚昇君苑) along the Keelung River in 2024. The district of Beitou is also seeing an influx of high-rises, with the current tallest, Tianmu Changyu A (天母常玉 A), built in 2025.[15] The skyline around Beitou will be transformed by the now under construction Kinpo Group Headquarters, which at 266 m (872 ft) will be more than twice the height of Tianmu Changyu A.
Perhaps the most dramatic shift in character can be seen in the district of Linkou. Separated from Taipei's main built-up area by hills, Linkou was largely underdeveloped until the 2010s. A growing population has led to the construction of numerous skyscrapers here, including the Sunland 41 development and currently culminating in the Eastern Group Headquarters, completed in 2025 as the ninth-tallest building in the city.
A panoramic view of New Taipei in 2016, across the Tamsui River
Tallest buildings
This lists ranks completed skyscrapers in Taipei and New Taipei City that stand at least 150 m (492 ft) tall as of 2025, based on standard height measurement. This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts. The “Year” column indicates the year of completion. An equal sign (=) following a rank indicates the same height between two or more buildings.[1][2]
Was the tallest building in Taipei upon completion
[16]The tallest building in the world from 2004 to 2010. Currently the 11th tallest in the world, 6th tallest in Asia and tallest in Taiwan. Tallest building completed in Taipei in the 2000s
The following table ranks skyscrapers that are under construction in Taipei and New Taipei City that are expected to be at least 150 m (492 ft) tall as of 2025, based on standard height measurement. The “Year” column indicates the expected year of completion. Buildings that are on hold are not included. A dash (–) indicates the information is unknown or has not been released.
The following table ranks proposed and approved skyscrapers in Taipei and New Taipei City that are expected to be at least 150m (492 ft). The “Year” column indicates the expected year of completion. A dash (–) indicates the information is unknown or has not been released.
Rank
Name
District
Height (m)
Floors
Year
Status
1
Hongsheng Residential and Commercial Building Project (宏盛建設-石牌142案)
The following map shows the location of skyscrapers in the central districts of Xinyi, Zhongzheng, and Daan that are taller than 159 m (492 ft). Each marker is coloured by the decade of the building's completion.
510m 556yds
38
37
33
32
20
19
15
8
7
5
4
3
2
1
Skyscrapers taller than 150 m (328 ft) in Xinyi, Zhongzheng, and Daan
The following map shows the location of skyscrapers in Greater Taipei that are taller than 150 m (492 ft). Each marker is coloured by the decade of the building's completion. Buildings included in the map above are not labelled here.
2km 1.2miles
39
36
35
34
31
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
18
17
16
14
13
12
11
10
9
6
Skyscrapers taller than 150 m (328 ft) in Greater Taipei
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