Explore the Wonders of Shanghai with Us

The Oriental Pearl Tower is a TV tower which is located at the tip of Lujiazui of Pudong District, adjacent to Shanghai International Convention Center, opposite of the Bund (the Shanghai waterfront). With a height of over 1,500 feet (468 meters) and completed in 1994, the Oriental Pearl Tower was the highest tower in China until 2007 when it was surpassed by the Shanghai World Financial Center.  At night, the Tower comes to life in brilliant LED light displays.

The TV tower is composed of a pedestal, three gigantic columns, an upper sphere, middle sphere, lower sphere, five smaller spheres and a moving capsule. The whole tower is supported by three huge columns that start underground. The lower sphere is more than 160 feet (50 meters) in diameter at a height of 60 meters above the ground. The middle sphere is 45 meters in diameter and the upper one is 14 meters in diameter at a height of 335 meters.

The tower features 11 spheres of differing sizes. It is said that the designer was inspired by a verse of Tang Dynasty poem Pipa Xing by Bai Juyi. The verse describes a sprinkling sound of pipa (a Chinese instrument), just like pearls falling on a jade plate.

The upper sphere contains a restaurant, shops, and observation floor. The world-renowned revolving restaurant is 267 meters in the upper sphere. With an area of more than 16,000 square feet (1,500 square meters), the revolving restaurant accommodates 350 persons, offering nearly a hundred kinds of cuisine, appealing to both Western and Chinese diets. It is a wonderful experience for tourists to enjoy a panoramic view of Shanghai while eating delicious food. On the first floor is found Shanghai’s Urban History and Development Museum, occupying an area of almost 11,000 square feet (10,000 square meters), which gives a vivid perspective and introduction to the development of Shanghai.

The Oriental Pearl Tower receives more than 28 millions tourists form China and from abroad every year. The Oriental Pearl has become a must-see tourist attraction combining other features like sightseeing, dining, shopping, entertainment, radio and TV transmitter, exhibition, etc. As one of the major landmarks of Shanghai, the Oriental Pearl Tower has designated a 4a tourist attraction, meaning its safety and cleanliness is quite good according to the China National Tourism Administration.

For the other staggering sights in Shanghai or anywhere else in China, take a look at our list of not-to- in China.