The Oriental Pearl Tower, formally known as The Oriental Pearl Radio & Television Tower, is a TV tower resembling pearls standing on a jade plate located in Shanghai, China. If you want to see the magnificent skyline of this city, the Oriental Pearl Tower is a very good choice. The tower includes different facilities for visitors such as a hotel, observation decks, restaurants, retail stores, conference halls, etc.
The Purposes of The Oriental Pearl Tower
This tower serves two purposes, first as a tourist attraction to enjoy a beautiful day in Shanghai and second as it says in the name, for broadcasting Television and Radio. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China has introduced several attractions with AAAAA degree of importance and the Oriental Pearl Tower is one of them, which should not be forgotten while visiting Shanghai. The Oriental Pearl TV Tower is also a member of the World Federation of Great Towers and has hosted the Chinese Live Earth concert in 2007.
How tall is this fantastic tower?
This futuristic-looking tower was once the tallest structure in the whole of China (between 1994 when it was finished to 2007) and now it is the fifth tallest in the country with 1535 feet (468 meters) height. Interestingly, the entire tower only stands on three enormous columns.
The Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai, China
The Three Observation Decks
The tower has different observation decks at different heights. The highest (Space Module or Space Capsule) is at 351 m (1148 feet), the middle one (Sightseeing Floor) is at 863 feet (263 m), and the lowest one (Space City) is at 295 feet (90 meters).
Sightseeing Floor has a glass atmosphere that makes visiting the tower more and more interesting and thrilling. Just imagine you are up there in the observation deck and you can easily see what’s beneath your feet from an 863 feet height. Are you bold enough to try that? But do not be afraid, you will not be able to break it! Just try to enjoy the view and take breathtaking pictures to remember this place.
On the viewing deck, like many others around the world, there is information about the significant places you can observe to better understand Shanghai and its beauties. You can also get a very good view to see the Shanghai World Financial Center from that height.
What else to do in The Oriental Pearl Tower?
Enjoy a fantastic meal
Enjoy a delicious meal while enjoying a 360 view of the city, The Oriental Pearl Tower has different restaurants for different tastes, but the best choice is the revolving restaurant. This restaurant is at 876 feet on the 267th level.
There are also other activities to do there like an arcade with video games and a multi-dimensional movie theatre.
Visit The Shanghai History Museum
After visiting the observation decks or enjoying your meal, you can pay a visit to the highly recommended Shanghai History Museum, which is located on the first floor. Here, you can find life-sized wax models of Chinese people from the early 20th century as well as an outstanding miniature model of the Bund with attractive details of its buildings and lovely boats in the water.
The Space Hotel
The Oriental Pearl tower also has a 20-room hotel called the Space Hotel. This hotel is located in the fifth smaller spheres between the two larger ones.
Shanghai Pearl Tower at Night
Want to know more about the architecture?
This building is designed based on a Tan dynasty poem about the haunting sound made by a lute. The entire structure is on a rich green grassland. This surrounding environment gives the tower the appearance of pearls shining on a jade plate. The building is also very beautiful at night when the light show is on and it looks very nice from the distance.
Spheres
The tower has 11 spheres in different sizes. The two largest spheres located along the length of the tower, have diameters of 164 feet (50 meters) for the lower one and 148 feet (45 meters) for the upper one. These spheres are linked by three columns and each of them is 30 feet (9 meters) in diameter. Also, the highest sphere which is the smallest one has a diameter of 46 feet (14 meters).
Material
The material to build this tower is mostly concrete. This element alongside steel and glass makes the Oriental Pearl Tower a truly modern building.
Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower
Tourist Guide
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Address | It’s on the coast on the Huangpu river on the opposite side of the bund. |
| How to get to | |
| By Metro | Take line 2 and leave at Lujiazui Station. Now, you have 5 minutes walking to reach the tower |
| By Bus | Take bus 314, 939, 993, Â Lujiazui Financial City Line 1, and any other buses that help you to reach the Lujiazui Huanlu Fenghelu Station |
| Prices | |
| 260 Yuan | 263m Sky Galleria/ 259m Transparent Sky Walking/ 78m “Future Shanghai” Multimedia Show/ Shanghai History Museum/ Huangpu River Cruise |
| 220 Yuan | 351m Space Capsule/ 263m Sky Galleria/ 259m Transparent Sky Walking/ 78m “Future Shanghai” Multimedia Show/ Shanghai History Museum |
| 190 Yuan | 263m Sky Galleria/ 259m Transparent Sky Walking/ 78m “Future Shanghai” Multimedia Show/ Shanghai History Museum/ Landmark Paradise |
| 160 Yuan | 263m Sky Galleria/ 259m Transparent Sky Walking/ Shanghai History Museum |
| 120 Yuan | Landmark paradise |
| 35 Yuan | Shanghai History Museum |
| Opening Hours | |
| Every Day | 8:00 – 21:30 |
As a tip, try to purchase your tickets before going to the tower because there are long lines to buy tickets most of the time. We will be grateful if you share your other information about the tower with us. Also, your questions about visiting the Oriental Pearl Tower will be replied by our professional experts as soon as possible.
