85 Sky Tower, Kaohsiung

As the second tallest building in Taiwan, Tuntex Sky Tower dominates the skyline of Kaohsiung. Visitors can go to the observation deck for sweeping views of the city and harbor.

Towering 378m above the city, 85 Sky Tower is the tallest building in Kaohsiung and the second tallest in Taiwan after Taipei 101. 85 Sky Tower is huge and you can spot it just about anywhere in the city. The building houses a high-end hotel, various restaurants, office space, and other facilities, but it is the observation deck that is the REAL shining star here! The deck, which is located on the 75th floor of this 85-floor structure, offers the best views over the cityscape and harbor. What’s more, the fast-moving lift traveling at 600 meters per minute allows you to reach the observation deck in just 43 seconds! While the 85 Sky Tower is a fun Kaohsiung attraction any time of day, come at sunset to watch the sun melt away over the horizon. Entry to the observation deck is a bit pricey at TWD 250 per person but for such epic views it’ll be worth every penny!

85 Sky Tower, formerly known as the T & C Tower or Tuntex Sky Tower, is an 85-story skyscraper in Lingya District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The structure is 347.5 m high. An antenna increases the pinnacle height to 378 m. Constructed from 1994 to 1997 by the now-defunct Tuntex Group, it is the tallest building in Kaohsiung, and the 2nd tallest in Taiwan after the Taipei 101. As of 2023, the building is almost entirely unoccupied except for a few condominiums (some subleased as short-term rentals) and offices between the 12th to 35th floors. Many floors have not been used in decades, and their conditions have become dirty and run-down. When the building first opened, it once housed a department store, indoor amusement park, five-star hotel, observatory, steakhouse and disco, VIP club and spa, and other amenities. The building was designed by C.Y. Lee & Partners and Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, and has an unusual 'prong' design with two separate 39-floor sections, which merge into a single central tower rising to a spire. This unique design leaves a substantial space below the central part of the tower. The design was inspired by the Chinese character KAO meaning tall, and also part of the city's name. John W. Milton was Project Director on behalf of Turner International Inc. (New York), a subsidiary of Turner Construction. There is no 44th floor in the building due to Tetraphobia), so the 43rd floor connects directly to the 45th floor; the 57th floor, a mechanical floor, is numbered 57A. The pyramid shaped crown is the equivalent of three stories high and is hence marketed as 83–85 to arrive at a round number. There is no elevator access to floors above 80.

The 85 Sky Tower (also called Tuntex Sky Tower) in Kaohsiung is a towering symbol of the city’s modernity and progress. However, it is also a symbol of its economic downfall. Standing at 378 meters tall (including the antenna), it is currently the second tallest building in Taiwan and remains one of the world’s tallest building. The 85 Sky Tower was completed in 1997 and has been for many years a major tourist attraction and a hub for business and commerce. Today it stands largely abandoned. ***PH***