Oriental Pearl TV Tower

Written by Sally Guo Updated Apr. 7, 2021

The Oriental Pearl Tower is 468 meters high, located in the Pudong New District of Shanghai. Completed in 1994, it is one of the iconic cultural landscapes of Shanghai and one of the “Top Ten New Landscapes of Shanghai”.

The Oriental Pearl Towers are of different sizes and scattered spheres. From the blue sky to the grassy lawn, they depict a dream picture of “The Big Pearl Beads Dropping the Jade Plate”(citing from a poem of the Tang Dynasty). You can see the whole tower on the Bund.

Oriental Pearl TV Tower

Basic Information

What’s Inside the Tower

Best Attractions You Shouldn’t Miss

The Shanghai History Museum - Enjoy Traditional Culture

The museum has 6 exhibition halls, the Scenery of the Chengxiang, Sketch of the Port-opening, Foreign Settlement, Old Footsteps at Sea, the Construction Exhibition, and the Automobile Exhibition, including 81 scenic spots, that reflect the development of Shanghai.

There are hundreds of precious historical relics and scaled-down gorgeous buildings, 117 life-size wax figures thousands of small wax figures and clay figures, and many kinds of other things that witnessed the great changes of Shanghai.

259M Transparent Observatory- the only 360-degree transparent observatory in the world

The 259M Transparent Observatory, the only 360-degree transparent observatory in the world, is made of tempered glass, 150 meters long and 2.1 meters wide. You can overlook the city here. And you will have a different visual experience.

263M Sightseeing Floor - Overlook the City

The 263 Sightseeing Floor is the main sightseeing layer. You stand high and you can get a bird’s-eye view of the city there. It is one of the best places to appreciate the beautiful scenery of the city. You will see architecture of different styles on the Bund and cruises on the Huangpu River.

351M Space Capsule Sightseeing Floor - Explore Universal Beauty

The 351M Space Capsule Sightseeing Floor is the highest sightseeing layer. With a diameter of 16 meters, the space capsule presents the science-fiction charm of the space scene in a futuristic style.

You can explore universal beauty, such as the constellation here. If you are an astronomy enthusiast, then you cannot miss the Space Capsule Sightseeing Floor.

Other Highlights in the Tower

78M Dynamic Ring Multimedia Show

It has a true 240-degree surround screen and ground screen to create a majestic visual effect to produce city life in the next 70 years. It attracts many people who are interested in science and life in the future. Can you imagine the life in next 70 years? Please come here to see whether it is the same as your expectations.

As a new scenic spot in Oriental Tower, Dynamic Ring Multimedia Show of Future Shanghai is not only a supplement to the future development of Shanghai but also a platform to showcase Shanghai and lead the city’s development and innovation.

90M & 98M Game City and Special VR Roller Coaster

There is a 90M Game City in the Oriental Pearl Tower. There are all kinds of games you have seen and you even have not heard of. If you like playing games, you can come to have a try. It will not make you disappointed. Anyway, it is so high that it must give you some different feelings when you enjoy the games.

With the slogan “Scream together to fly together and pass through Lujiazui”, it is the first and Shanghai’s highest indoor VR Roller Coaster. It breaks through the limitations of a traditional roller coaster in vision and sense and opens up a more exciting, more shocking, and more interesting new era of VR intercity high-altitude adventure.

Fun Things to Know

There is a 267M Aerial Revolving Restaurant, the highest revolving restaurant in Asia. The spacious spherical glass window offers unobstructed views of the river, overlooking 267 meters high. Here, you will experience Shanghai's highest-end dining culture and can taste delicious food from around the world.

There is also an interesting place, Flower Bar. There are all kinds of flowers with clean air, making you get rid of the nervous feeling from work. It is like an oasis in the reinforced concrete city and it provides a relaxing place for urban rushers to stop to have a rest.

The Best Locations to See the Tower

Take a Cruise on the Huangpu River

There are three cruises you can take to travel. The tour time is 45 minutes. The sailing time is 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 12:00 a.m., 14:00 p.m., 15:00 p.m., 16:00 p.m., 19:00 p.m. and 20:00 p.m. And 17:00 p.m. and 21:00 p.m. are available only in peak season.

The Bund

The Bund is on the other side of the Huangpu River. It is a suitable place to watch the Oriental Tower. And there are many old buildings in different styles of different countries. You can see the development of Shanghai by comparing the old buildings and the modern Oriental Pearl Tower.

Top skyscrapers in Pudong
Top skyscrapers in Pudong

Pudong Park

The park is near the Oriental Tower. You can watch the Oriental Pearl Tower clearly. And the park is quiet and comfortable. You can have a cup of tea or coffee, relaxing on a bench with your family and friends to watch the Oriental Pearl Tower. It is also the best place to enjoy your weekends.

The Features and Differences of the Three Iconic Buildings

The Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower, and Shanghai World Financial Center

Names of Towers Recommended Reasons Shortcomings Height Time of Visit
Oriental Pearl Tower

1. You can visit Shanghai History Museum in the tower;
2. The icon of Shanghai;
3. Aerial panorama;
4. Transparent observation deck;
5. Satisfying guide service.

1. Too many guests;
2. Not the highest building in Shanghai;
3. Long queue time, over 30 minutes

468m 2 hours
Shanghai Tower

1. The tallest building in Shanghai and the second in the world;
2. Aerial panorama;
3. You can overlook Shanghai World Financial Center and the Oriental Pearl Tower here;
4. The fastest elevator: 18m/s, arriving at the top within 35s.
5. Queue time within 20 minutes.

1. The highest floor is not yet open. (But the open floor is higher than Shanghai World Financial Center.);
2. Insufficient guide service.

632m 1 hour
Shanghai World Financial Center

1. Queue time is short;
2. There is a small place to view the ground landscape on the 100th floor.

1. The title of the highest building in Shanghai has been lost to Shanghai Tower;
2. No panorama.

492m 1 hour

Annually Activities

Clime the Tower on New Year’s Day

The activity, of climbing the Oriental Pearl Tower on New Year’s Day started in 1996. The activity, symbolizing making progress every day in the new year has become the traditional fitness program on New Year’s Day in Shanghai.

Earth Hour

Since 2009, the Oriental Pearl Tower has joined Earth Hour to respond to the call for energy saving and emission reduction from the World Wildlife Fund.

Charitable Activity

On March 8th, the Oriental Pearl Tower is lit in pink to call for society to care for women.

On April 2nd, the Oriental Pearl Tower is lit in blue to call for society to care for autistic.

Cultural Activity

The Oriental Pearl Tower sets up a cultural gallery in a lobby, four-meter wide, and often holds various exhibitions of painting, calligraphy, and photography. Such as Oriental Feather—Photography Exhibition of Wild Bird, Photo Exhibition of Protecting Tibetan Antelope in Hoh Xil, and Shanghai Children’s Thematic Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition in a 100-meter-long Scroll.

Tickets

Ticket Content Price (per person) in RMB
Sightseeing 351M Space Capsule + 263M Sightseeing Floor + 259M Sky Walking + 78M Multimedia Show + Museum ¥220 A Ticket
263M Sightseeing Floor + 259M Sky Walking + 78M Multimedia Show + Museum ¥190 E-Ticket
263M Sightseeing Floor + 259M Sky Walking + Museum ¥160 B Ticket
Single Ticket Landmark Paradise ¥120
Package 263M Sightseeing Floor + 259M Sky Walking + 78M Multimedia Show + Museum + Huangpu River Cruise ¥260 (Sightseeing + Cruise)
Touring Museum ¥35 D Ticket
Cruise 45 minutes ¥160 for Luxury Class, ¥130 for First Class

Transportation

Stations and Airports By Metro Time
Shanghai Railway Station Subway Line 1 to [Shiji Ave] and then transfer to Metro Line 2, [Lujiazui] exit 2 37 minutes
Hongqiao Railway Station Metro Line 2 to [Lujiazui] Exit 2 48 minutes
Hongqiao Airport Metro Line 2 [Hongqiao Terminal 2] to [Lujijiazui] Exit 2 47 minutes
Pudong International Airport Metro Line 2 to [Lujijiazui] Exit2 Approximately 1 hour and 6 minutes

Tips

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