The world's second-tallest building isn't open to the public yet, but British photographer Paul Reiffer managed to get early access to the Shanghai Tower. The 128-floor skyscraper stands at 632m (2,073ft) high, and it is situated next to two more of the world's 20 tallest buildings, the Jin Mao Tower (420m) and Shanghai World Financial Centre (492m). Reiffer said: "It's a rather strange experience to be looking down on them – especially in a city where private aviation is pretty much illegal, meaning helicopters are a no-no."
Although the Shanghai Tower is smaller than the Burj Khalifa, the observation deck of Dubai's mega-structure is at 556m, while the Shanghai Tower's is higher, at 561m (and the photographer was higher than that). Perched at the very top of the megascraper, Reiffer managed to photograph the dizzying view with the 80-megapixel Phase One camera for a brief moment before the clouds closed in on him.
Cities at night
Dawn breaks over Sydney Harbour, Australia
The sun rises behind the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Harbour at night
The Tokyo Tower, in the Japanese capital
Nine Dragon Pillar intersection, Shanghai, China
The skyline of Pudong, Shanghai, China
Millennium Bridge and St Paul's Cathedral, London, UK
Tower Bridge at dusk, London, UK
Nanpu Bridge, Shanghai, China
Venice by night
New York's financial district, seen behind the remains of a pier
Midtown, New York City
Hong Kong
