Taikoo is the Cantonese pronunciation of Swire's Chinese name, while Shing can be literally translated as City.

The dockyard moved to United Dockyards at the west shore of the Tsing Yi Island in the late 1970s, and Taikoo Shing was constructed over the site in stages, with constructions of all main residential buildings complete by the early 1990s.

As part of the business strategy, Swire Properties was established in 1972 immediately after the closing of the dockyard.

[5] Apartment flats in Taikoo Shing are popular amongst buyers and speculators, and for a significant time in the 1980s and 1990s, Taikoo Shing's housing price is a general indicator of the Hong Kong's housing market health in general.

Although in recent years, newer housing developments have eroded a bit of Taikoo Shing's once prominent status.

The housing in Taikoo Shing was developed in stages, with the Tsui Woo Terrace being the first ones constructed.

In all, the estate's housing complexes are broken down into 6 terraces and 2 gardens, each with a special naming scheme.

In addition, all of the mansions names' first character corresponds to various political dynasties in Chinese history.

Horizon Garden (海天花園); all of the mansions on this terrace have the Chinese word for "sky" (天) as the second character of the building's name.

A Chuck E. Cheese's Pizza Time Theatre was located at the estate when Hong Kong was a British colony, opening between 1984 and 1985 and closing in 1987.

[8] In practice, public traffic is generally allowed to pass freely, but admission may be denied.