Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank

The imposing offices of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank in Queen's Road cost almost £900 million/US $1300 million, making this the most expensive office building in the world - even dearer than the neighboring 70-story Bank of China of 1989. It has 52 storys, is almost 179m/590ft high, and houses a working population of 3500.

Designed by the British architect Sir Norman Foster and built in only two and a half years, the building is well worth a visit. The site was originally occupied by a 1930s-style building; the only items preserved from this were the two bronze lions known as Stitt and Stephen which now guard the main entrance; in accordance with Chinese tradition they had also protected the entrance to the previous office