Taipei's finger in the eye of China

Overshadowed by China, Taiwan built the world's tallest skyscraper. But Shanghai has plans to take that honor.

from the June 18, 2007 edition

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But glory is ephemeral at these elevations. In Shanghai, long-delayed plans to build a World Financial Center are underway again – this time, for a structure 100 feet higher than originally conceived. Perhaps coincidentally, but almost certainly not, that extension will make the new building slightly taller than Taipei 101.

Time was, a world-beating skyscraper could relish its uniqueness. The Empire State Building, raised in 1931, ruled the roost for 43 years before the Sears Tower rose above it. That Chicago landmark held the record for another 24 years before the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, heralded Asia's domination of the skyscraper stakes.

Taipei 101 will enjoy the honor of being the world's tallest building for only four years. In Dubai, a behemoth nearly half a mile high is under construction, due to dwarf its nearest rivals by nearly 1,000 feet. And if structures planned in Russia and South Korea are actually built, Taipei's pride will have been relegated to sixth place by 2012.

Diana Chen, CEO of the Taipei Financial Center Corp., which owns Taipei 101, says she is unfazed.

"You get attention when you are the tallest building, but more important is how you make people remember you," she says, pointing out that Taipei 101 is distinctly Chinese in a cultural sense. "When you see Taipei 101 you know it comes from China. Even when we are not the tallest, we will continue to be one of the most special buildings in the world."

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