Skyscrapers

A skyscraper is an extremely tall building. There is no precise definition for the term; in some cities it might mean a building taller than 150 m, 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 from the definition of "skyscraper", which is commonly restricted to buildings where people live or work on most or all floors.

Skyscrapers are mainly used for corporate and government offices, hotels or residences. Many of them are mixed-use buildings; for example the 88-storey Jinmao Tower in Shanghai is mostly offices but has a shopping mall on the first few floors, a food court in a basement, and a Hyatt hotel on floors 54-85. The tallest usually have some facility where visitors can enjoy the view, an observation deck or a restaurant with huge windows, and the views are often sensational.