Tours and holidays with added interest
Oriental Pearl Tower
- Name in Chinese characters: 东方明珠塔
- Name in Pinyin: Dōngfāng Míngzhūtǎ
General Overview
The Oriental Pearl Tower is located in the new Pudong District of Shanghai, directly across the Huangpu River from the Bund.
The tower was completed in 1994 and, at that time, was the tallest structure in mainland China. It retained that title for 13 years and then lost it to the nearby World Financial Centre.
It is the spheres incorporated in this tower's design that helped it earn its nickname, and then formal title. There are 11 spheres altogether. The two large ones give shape to the structure whilst the others serve as room-space for various floors.
Attractions For Visitors
Most visitors to Shanghai enjoy a trip up at least one of the towers. Obviously a day without haze is best. The Oriental Pearl Tower may not offer the highest point any more but its location is hard to beat.
The highest public point in this tower is at 350 metres and is aptly known as the Space Module.
There is a revolving restaurant at 267 metres; this may be a little pricey but is definitely a great location for any special occasion.
There is a small (20 room) hotel located between the two large spheres. Booking these rooms can be difficult so, if you really want to stay here, plan well ahead.
Other floors contain a number of exhibitions and so a visit can take several hours depending upon your interests.
Many visitors take the Bund Tunnel to Pudong for access. This is a bit of fun but has also become relatively expensive. You can also cross under the river by regular metro.
-
-
Please rate this option
Please rate our write-up.
Was this interesting?
-
Get Recommendations
- Now showing:
- Our Best-sellers
- The Meridian Line
We head from the seat of power in the north, Beijing, to the very different south. We see a mix of urban and rural life giving us a glimpse at the changes that are taking place in this fascinating country.From £ 1,950 - Yunnan And Yangtse
This journey combines the excitement of discovery in remote Yunnan with a comfortable Yangtse Cruise and a comprehensive look at the most popular sites.From £ 3,290 - Red Star Express
This quick journey is for those who have only one week and want to see the highlights. We visit the three most popular cities: Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai.From £ 1,250 - Ancient Capitals
We use the 6 ancient capitals as an excuse to explore the country. Each capital has developed differently and the contrasts help us to understand something of the real China.From £ 1,925
- Browse our complete range of tours
24/7 Sales Support:
UK +44 (0)844 567 0953
USA +1-877-526-3979
Top Prefectures
- Xi'an: Ancient capital and home to the Terracotta Warriors
- Chengdu: Capital of Sichuan, with pandas and much more
- Guilin: the best scenery under heaven, according to a popular saying
- Hangzhou: Ancient capital centered around the lovely West Lake
All
Prefectures
Top Sites
- Forbidden City: Home of Emperors throughout the Ming & Qing Dynasties
- Great Wall Of China: Symbolic barrier between the Chinese and the north
- Terracotta Warriors: The underground army protecting the First Emperor's tomb
- Panda Centre: Breeding and research in Chengdu. Ideal for visitors
More
sites
© Copyright China Journeys Limited
Registered in England and Wales No. 07014791
Registered Office: 2nd Floor, Newby House, 309 Chase Road, London, N14 6JS
24/7 Sales support telephone: +44 (0)844 567 0953
Your Financial Protection
The air holiday packages and flights shown are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 10236. Please see our booking conditions for more information.
ATOL Protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services on this website. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking.
Current Comments
4 comments so far (post your own)Hi Cerys
You can. It has observation and exhibition areas on floors 94 through 100. Stats vary but the top floor is at approx 474m (1555 ft) above the ground. This makes it the highest outdoor observation deck in the world.
For more info, take a look at their site: http://swfc-shanghai.com/?l=en
Posted by China Journeys on Fri 24 Feb, 2012
Can you visit the World Financial Centre or only this Pearl Tower
Posted by Cerys on Fri 24 Feb, 2012
Hi Madeleine
No - the Shanghai World Financial Centre now holds that title. It is 492 metres tall.
Another building is under construction which is expected to be 632 metres tall when completed in 2014. The working title for that one is simply Shanghai Tower.
Posted by China Journeys on Sun 5 Feb, 2012
Is this the tallest building in Shanghai?
Posted by Madeleine on Sun 5 Feb, 2012