If you’re standing on the Star Ferry, looking across the water at West Kowloon, it’s impossible to miss. One giant glass monolith just completely dominates the view. Honestly, it looks like it’s in a different league compared to the rest of the skyline. That’s the International Commerce Centre, or the ICC for the locals. It is, without any debate, the tallest building in Hong Kong.
Standing at 484 meters (that’s about 1,588 feet), it’s a monster. But it wasn’t supposed to be this "short."
The original plans actually had it much higher. Architects Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) initially wanted it to soar past the 570-meter mark. Imagine that. But Hong Kong has some pretty strict regulations about buildings not being taller than the surrounding mountains—specifically Victoria Peak. So, they had to chop a significant chunk off the design. Even after that "haircut," it still towers over everything else in the city by a good 60-plus meters.
The Dragon of West Kowloon: More Than Just Steel
Most people just see a big glass box. Look closer. The design is actually based on the idea of a dragon.
The base of the tower is called the "Dragon Tail." It’s not just a fancy name; it’s where the building literally grafts itself into the city’s transport veins. It sits right on top of Kowloon Station. You can go from the airport to the lobby of the tallest building in Hong Kong in about 20 minutes without ever stepping outside into the humidity. That’s peak Hong Kong efficiency right there.
What’s actually inside those 118 floors?
It’s a vertical city. Seriously.
- The Elements Mall: This is at the very bottom. It’s organized by the five Chinese elements (Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Metal).
- The Offices: Huge names like Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank take up most of the middle sections.
- Sky100: On the 100th floor, you’ve got the observation deck.
- The Ritz-Carlton: This takes up the top floors. For a long time, it was the highest hotel in the world. Even though a few spots in China have since claimed that title, having a drink at Ozone—the bar on the 118th floor—still feels like you’re sitting in the clouds.
The building is also a giant screen. The facade is covered in 77,000 square meters of LED lights. Every night, they run light shows that can be seen from across the harbor in Central. It’s officially one of the largest light and sound shows on a single building on the planet.
Why the Tallest Building in Hong Kong Matters in 2026
You might think that in a city like this, records are broken every week. But the ICC has held its title since 2010. That is a lifetime in the world of Asian architecture.
While Shenzhen across the border is throwing up 500-meter towers like they’re LEGO sets, Hong Kong has become more selective. There are new developments like the Cheung Kong Center II or the Henderson building (that curvy one that looks like a Zaha Hadid masterpiece), but none of them are trying to beat the ICC’s height. They are focused on "smart" tech and green spaces instead.
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Sky100 actually just went through a massive renovation. It reopened in the first half of 2026 with a bunch of new AR experiences. You can now basically "fly" through the history of the harbor using goggles while standing 393 meters above the actual water. It’s a bit trippy, but the views are still the real hero.
Facing off with the IFC
You can’t talk about the ICC without mentioning its rival: Two International Finance Centre (2 IFC).
They sit on opposite sides of Victoria Harbour like two giant gatekeepers. This is often called the "Victoria Harbour Gateway." 2 IFC is the one on the Hong Kong Island side with the "fingers" or "comb" on top. It’s 412 meters tall. For seven years, it was the king of the hill until the ICC finished construction in West Kowloon and snatched the crown.
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There’s a funny bit of feng shui lore here too. Some say the ICC was built in Kowloon to "balance" the energy of the massive IFC tower on the Island side. Whether you believe in energy flow or just like cool architecture, the symmetry they create is basically the "money shot" for every tourist's camera.
Practical Tips for Visiting
If you’re planning to head over, don't just show up and hope for the best.
- Check the weather: If the clouds are low, you will literally see nothing but white mist from the 100th floor. It’s a waste of money. Use the live cam on the Sky100 website before you buy a ticket.
- The "Bar Shortcut": If you don't want to pay for the observation deck, book a table at Ozone on the 118th floor. The drinks are expensive—kinda eye-watering, honestly—but the price of a gin and tonic is often less than the Sky100 entry fee, and you're 18 floors higher.
- The Light Show: The best place to watch the ICC's LED show isn't at the building. Go to the P3 or P4 public terraces at the IFC Mall across the water. You get the full scale of the animation from there.
The ICC isn't just a trophy. It's a logistical hub that moves 30,000 people a day through 83 elevators. Some of those elevators move at 9 meters per second. Your ears will definitely pop.
What to do next
If you're heading to the ICC, make sure to:
- Download the Sky100 App before you go to access the new 2026 AR features without using the slow public Wi-Fi.
- Visit the West Kowloon Cultural District right after. It’s a short walk from the ICC base and gives you a ground-level perspective of just how massive the tower is compared to the new M+ Museum.
- Book Ozone sunset slots at least two weeks in advance. Even in 2026, it’s still the most popular "flex" spot in the city for a reason.