Written by Clementine |
Standing beside the Huangpu River and at the tip of Pudong Lujiazui, the Oriental Pearl Tower (also known as Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower) is one of the iconic cultural attractions and landmarks in Shanghai. It integrates urban sightseeing, fashionable catering, shopping and entertainment, historical display, Huangpu River Cruise, exhibitions and performances, radio and television broadcasting, and other functions.
Going onto the three main spheres of Oriental Pearl TV Tower, one can stand at different heights to overlook the magnificent scenery of Shanghai, including the exotic buildings on the Bund, the surging waters of the Huangpu River, and the skyscrapers in Lujiazui. When the lights are bright and dazzling at night, it further becomes one of the popular places for tourists in Shanghai.
The main reasons why the Oriental Pearl Tower is so popular include its unique architectural design and height, rich functions and activities, as well as its symbolic significance in Shanghai. Looking from a distance, the Tower with the Nanpu Bridge in the southwest and the Yangpu Bridge in the northeast forms an unique picture like “two dragons playing with the pearl”. Going inside and up the Oriental Pearl Tower is absolutely one of the top things to do in Shanghai.
Basic Facts about the Oriental Pearl Tower
- Chinese Name: 东方明珠广播电视塔
- Location: 1 Century Avenue, Lujiazui, Pudong New Area, ShanghaiCity
- Opening Hours: 09:00-21:00 (Stop entry time 20:30)
- Time Needed: About 1-3 hours
- Best Viewing Time: at sunset and when the building clusters in the Bundlight up, at night
- Highlights:It is the landmark building in Shanghai, the 6th tallest tower in Asia and the 9th tallest in the world.
Oriental Pearl Tower Tickets
- Sky Walking Value Package: RMB199 per adult, including 263m Sightseeing Galleria + 259m Transparent Observatory + 90m Outdoor Observatory + 78m “Updating City” Dynamic Ring Multimedia Show + Shanghai History Museum
- Sky Walking Value Package+ Huangpu River Cruise: RMB 279 per adult, including 263m Sightseeing Galleria + 259m Transparent Observatory + 90m Outdoor Observatory + 78m “Updating City” Dynamic Ring Multimedia Show + Shanghai History Museum + Oriental Pearl Tower Tourism Wharf 45 minute Huangpu River Cruise
- Sky Walking Value Package+ Space Capsule: RMB 299 per adult, including Express Lane to the Tower + 351m Space Capsule + 263m Sightseeing Galleria + 259m Transparent Observatory + 90m Outdoor Observatory + 78m “Updating City” Dynamic Ring Multimedia Show + Shanghai History Museum
- Sky Walking Value Package+ Revolving Restaurant Buffet: RMB 368 per adult for Lunch (11:00-14:00); RMB 418 per adult for Dinner (17:00-21:00) , including Quick Access to the Tower During Meal Time + 267m Revolving Restaurant + 263m Sightseeing Galleria + 259m Transparent Observatory + 90m Outdoor Observatory + 78m “Updating City” Dynamic Ring Multimedia Show + Shanghai History Museum
- Shanghai History Museum (Single Ticket): RMB 35
- Huangpu River Cruise (Single Ticket): RMB 130
Oriental Pearl Tower also offers AR and MR entertainment (Sky Walking Value Package included), with the ticket prices RMB 219 and RMB 247 per adult respectively. At its 95-meter height, you can also experience the fantastic and exciting “VR Roller Coaster”.
History and Design of the Oriental Pearl Tower
The Oriental Pearl Tower was built in July 1991 with the total investment of 830 million yuan. It was put into use in October 1994 and officially opened to the public in May 1995. The Tower has the ability to transmit 9 sets of wireless TV and 10 sets of FM radio programs, and can cover the entire area of Shanghai and neighboring provinces within a radius of 80 kilometers.On September 29, 2024, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower welcomed its 100,000,000 tourist – Peter Bauer from Germany.
With a total height of 468 meters, the Oriental Pearl Tower is famous for its unique design. Its design inspiration comes from the ancient Chinese poem “Big pearls, small pearls falling onto a jade plate”. From top to bottom, the tower is connected by 11 spheres of different sizes, creating a visual rhythmic beauty.
With a total construction area of 100,000 square meters, the Oriental Pearl Tower integrates modern technology and oriental culture. The body of the Tower is supported by three slant support and three columns, combining square, tower base, lower sphere, five small spheres, upper sphere, space capsule, transmission antenna mast and other parts to form a unique multi-cylinder structure.
How Many Floors Does the Oriental Pearl Tower Have?
The Oriental Pearl TV Tower has 25 layers in total, distributed in 5 different regions. The tower base has three floors and serves as the lobby and elevator hall. The lower sphere has four floors and is mainly an indoor amusement park. Here, you can basically see clearly the whole picture of Shanghai. The five small spheres are actually five high-altitude hotels, with a total of five floors.
The center elevation of the upper sphere is 272.5 meters, with nine floors. There are office areas and entertainment facilities here, including Asia’s tallest revolving restaurant, observation platforms, etc. There are astronomical telescopes around. The space capsule is 342 meters above the ground, divided into four floors. Tourists can only walk on the sightseeing floor, while the conference floor is used for business activities.
Must-See Spots inside the Oriental Pearl Tower
The Tower features a 351m Space Capsule, 267m Revolving Restaurant, Shanghai History Museum, 263m Sightseeing Galleria, 259m Transparent Observatory and other facilities.
Shanghai History Museum
Visitors here can learn about Shanghai’s past, present and future. If you want to know something about history of Shanghai, Shanghai History Museum is a best place which shows the historical changes of Shanghai from 700 years ago to now. It covers an area of about 10,000 square meters, and gathers more than 100 wax figures. It is an innovative museum integrating history, culture, appreciation and entertainment.
What’s more, there is a 78-meter creative moving multimedia show called “78m “Updating City” Dynamic Ring Multimedia Show”, which shows the beautiful vision that people will live in harmony with the nature in the next 70 years.
Sky Walking and Sightseeing
You can go to the 259 meters Transparent Observatory – the only 360 degree completely transparent observatory in the world, which is composed by 72 pieces of tempered glass with the circumference of 150 meters. Enjoy the panoramic view of Shanghai in the unique way of “walking in the air”. The 263 meters Sightseeing Galleria allows you to look down the two sides of the Pujiang River and deeply understand Shanghai’s vicissitudes and rich cultural heritage.
Located at a height of about 351 meters in the third sphere, the Space Capsule has an interior full of a sense of technology. It provides a broader view and make people feel like they are in the clouds, which is particularly popular among children.
Visitors ascending the Oriental Pearl Tower can simultaneously enjoy the splendid view of “wonder of the world” attractions – three super-high buildings which are over 420 meters high stands side by side. Namely Lujiazui Three-Piece Set (Jinmao Tower, World Financial Center, Shanghai Tower).
Asia’s Highest Revolving Restaurant (267m)
There are many famous and creative restaurants in the Oriental Pearl Tower. The most famous is the Revolving Restaurant, with an area of 1,500 square meters and rotating a circle every 2 hours. Here you can not only enjoy the delicious food from Southeast Asia, Japan, China and European and American countries, but also appreciate the breathtaking view along the Huangpu River at the same time. Definitely an unforgettable experience during your Shanghai tours.
And the Coca-Cola Happiness Restaurant is also popular with tourists, which is the only one parent-child interactive restaurant of the Coca-cola theme in the world. If you want to taste the authentic Shanghai Cuisine, you can not miss the No.8 Old Shanghai Restaurant. And visitors can buy unique and beautifully made souvenirs, or what they like in various kinds of stores here.
When is the Best Time to Visit?
The best time to visit the Oriental Pearl TV Tower is in the evening and in early morning. In the evening, the lights of the Tower are on, making the whole building more attractive in the night and suitable for enjoying the night scenery. Going there in early morning can avoid peak crowds and enjoy a relatively peaceful travel experience. In addition, choosing to visit after 5 pm is also a good option, as you can enjoy different beautiful views during the day and night.
As the famous tourist destination and landmark of Shanghai, the Oriental Pearl Tower attracts a great number of tourists home and abroad. If you want to have a great Shanghai travel experience here, it is wise for you to avoid the official holidays in China to start your Oriental Pearl Tower tour.
Tips: Visitors had better avoid the official holidays in China, because many Chinese citizens choose to travel on official holidays. As a result, many Chinese tourist attractions are overcrowded and traffic jams are common. Therefore, visiting China at this time will bring tourists a less pleasant travel experience.
Official Holidays in China
Around January or February |
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Winter vacation |
January-February |
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Labor Day |
May1st -3rd |
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Summer vacation(for students) |
July-August31st |
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Around mid-September |
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National Day |
October 1st-7th |
How to Get to the Oriental Pearl Tower?
By Bus
- Take Bus N 82, 314, 939, Lujiazui Financial City Line1, Lujiazui Financial City Line 3, Lujiazui Financial City Loop Line, Pudong 62, Tour Line 8 and get off at the Lujiazui Huanlu Fenghelu Station.
- Take Bus N 81, 85, 313, 774, 779, 798, 992, Lujiazui Financial City Line4 and get off at the Lujiazui Subway Station.
- Take Bus N 583, 870, 961, 985, Pudong 100and get off at the Lujiazui Huanlu Mingshanglu Station.
- Take TourLine 2, 3, 5, 10 and get off at the Oriental Pearl Tower Station.
By Subway
Take Subway Line 2, Line 14 and get off at the Lujiazui Station, then exit from Exit 2.
Attractions Nearby the Oriental Pearl Tower
The Bund
Facing the Oriental Pearl TV Tower across the Huangpu River, it is 1.5 km long and one of the landmarks of Shanghai. Here stand 52 classical revival buildings with distinct styles, known as the “Exotic building clusters in the Bund of Shanghai”. The Bund at night is brightly lit, showcasing the prosperity and charm of Shanghai.
Yu Garden
It is a classical Jiangnan garden, first built in 1559 (Ming Dynasty), located in Shanghai “Old City”. With its unique Wu Yue architectural style and complete layout, it combines the artistic characteristics of southern Chinese gardens from the Ming and Qing dynasties – “quiet, beautiful, and exquisite”.
Shanghai Ocean Aquarium
Just located northeast of Oriental Pearl Tower in Pudong Lujiazui core area, it is one of the largest artificial seawater aquariums in the world. The Aquarium has the longest underwater tunnel in Asia and over 450 rare marine animals from the four oceans.
