Let us start with a confession. When the Oriental Pearl Tower was first proposed, many people thought it would never work. The design was too strange. The location was too remote. The construction was too difficult.
Thirty years later, it is impossible to imagine Shanghai without it.
Here is everything you need to know about the tower that changed Pudong forever – from its unlikely birth to what you will find inside today.
The Tower That Shouldn‘t Have Happened
In the 1980s, Shanghai had a problem. Television reception was terrible. As new buildings went up across the city, the old TV tower on Nanjing West Road could not keep up. The signal kept getting blocked .
The solution seemed obvious: build a taller tower. But where?
The first ideas all placed the tower in Puxi – People‘s Square, Jing‘an Park, Zhongshan Park. None of them worked. Then someone made a suggestion that sounded crazy at the time: what about across the river, in Pudong?
In the 1980s, Pudong was not the financial district you see today. It was farmland. Swampy land. Muddy paths. Locals called it “a patch of land waiting to be developed” . The idea of putting Shanghai‘s landmark tower there seemed absurd.
But the location had advantages. The land was cheap. The river view was spectacular. And after geological surveys confirmed the soil could support a 450-meter tower, the decision was made.
Pudong was about to get its first skyscraper.
The Design: From a Crumpled Newspaper to “大珠小珠落玉盘”
The design process was almost as dramatic as the construction.
The lead architect, Jiang Huan Cheng, struggled for weeks to break away from the standard tower design of the time. Most TV towers around the world looked similar – a single concrete shaft with a few platforms sticking out. Someone joked that they all looked like “chimneys with sugarcoated haws” .
Jiang needed something different. The story goes that he was sketching ideas on a crumpled piece of newspaper when inspiration struck. He looked at the scattered circles on the page and thought of pearls.
The concept was refined with help from poets and historians. Someone quoted Tang dynasty poet Bai Juyi‘s famous line: “大珠小珠落玉盘” (Large pearls and small pearls falling onto a jade plate) . The description fit perfectly. The tower would have eleven spheres of varying sizes, strung together like drops of water.
The design was radical. Some experts at the review meeting called it impractical. The slanted supports would be difficult to build. The spheres would complicate equipment placement. At China‘s current construction capacity, some said, this was just a fantasy .
But the project‘s director, Gong Xueping, pushed back. “Shanghai needs the courage to try bold things,” he said. “We are building a tower that people will not regret a hundred years from now” .
The design was approved in March 1989.
Building the Impossible
Construction began on July 30, 1991 . The challenges were relentless.
The three main concrete columns had to be tilted at precise angles – 60 degrees outward. Nothing like this had ever been attempted on such a scale. The builders took inspiration from the Eiffel Tower, but the solution required an extra three million yuan in funding .
The main structure was completed in just 27 months – 105 days ahead of schedule . On May 1, 1994, the 110-meter steel antenna was hoisted into place. The tower finally stood at 468 meters, making it Asia‘s tallest structure at the time and the third tallest in the world, behind only towers in Moscow and Toronto .
The tower officially opened to the public on November 18, 1994 . One visitor recalled arriving at the base through muddy roads. “Walking from the construction site into the marble lobby, the contrast was stunning,” they said .
How to Get There
The tower sits at No. 1 Century Avenue, right at the tip of Lujiazui.
Metro: Line 2 or Line 14 to Lujiazui Station. Take Exit 1 or 2. The tower is a 5–10 minute walk, and you cannot miss it . Trains run frequently.
Opening Hours: Daily, 8:00 AM to 10:30 PM . Last entry is around 8:30 PM.
Best Time to Visit: Late afternoon. You can watch the city transition from daylight to sunset to nighttime lights all in one visit . The tower‘s own lights come on at 7:00 PM in summer and 6:30 PM in winter, with special shows at 7:30, 8:30, and 9:30 PM .
Tickets and Pricing (2026)
Children‘s tickets (under 1.4m) are roughly half price .
Tip: Buy tickets in advance through the official WeChat account or online platforms like Trip.com. The Rotating Restaurant Package is surprisingly good value – it includes fast-track entry, which can save you hours of waiting during peak season .
What‘s Inside: Floor by Floor
0m – Shanghai City History Museum
Before you even go up, spend some time here. The museum covers old Shanghai from the colonial era through the 1940s. Wax figures, vintage cars, and detailed dioramas bring the past to life. It is included with your ticket .
90m – Outdoor Viewing Corridor
This is where you first step outside. The breeze is refreshing. The views of Lujiazui‘s financial district are excellent.
259m – Fully Transparent Skywalk
This is the highlight for thrill-seekers. The floor is made entirely of glass. You stand 259 meters above the city with nothing between you and the ground . Yes, it is terrifying. Yes, everyone does it anyway.
263m – Main Observation Deck
A 360-degree indoor observation floor with floor-to-ceiling windows. On clear days, you can see the Bund, Huangpu River, and across to Hongkou. The space is fully enclosed and air-conditioned – a relief in summer.
267m – Revolving Restaurant
The entire floor rotates slowly. A full meal takes about an hour, during which you will see every direction. The food is buffet-style with Chinese, Western, and seafood options. It is not cheap, but many visitors consider it worth it for the experience and the fast-track entry perk .
350m – Space Module
The highest public level. This section reopened in 2023 after a major renovation. The space-age theme feels retro-futuristic now – a time capsule of 1990s optimism about the future .
The Glass Floor Debate: Should You Do It?
The transparent skywalk at 259 meters is the tower‘s most famous attraction. You step onto a glass panel and look straight down at the traffic, the trees, and the tiny people walking below.
Some people love it. Some people freeze.
Practical advice: The glass can get scratched from years of foot traffic, so the view downward is not perfectly clear. The thrill comes from the height itself, not the clarity . If you are nervous, watch others go first. You can also stand on the edge where the glass meets the solid floor. No one will judge you for staying on solid ground.
The Restaurant Experience: Skip the Lines or Skip the Food?
The rotating restaurant at 267 meters has two major benefits:
- The view changes while you eat. The floor completes one rotation in about an hour, so you see every direction without getting up.
- Fast-track entry. This is the real value. During peak season, the regular queue can stretch to two or three hours. Restaurant guests use a separate entrance and go up much faster .
The food is decent buffet fare – seafood, sushi, hot dishes, salads, desserts. The quality will not rival a dedicated fine-dining restaurant, but that is not why you are here. You are here for the experience.
Window seat tip: If you want a table against the glass, arrive early. On weekends, people line up an hour before their reservation time to secure the best spots .
The Shanghai Tower Nearby: How Do They Compare?
Shanghai residents love this debate. Which tower has the better view?
| Feature | Oriental Pearl Tower | Shanghai Tower |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 468m (observations at 263m, 350m) | 632m (observation at 552m) |
| Price | 199-418 RMB | 180-400+ RMB |
| Vibe | Retro, fun, family-friendly | Modern, sleek, adult-oriented |
| Glass floor | Yes (at 259m) | No |
| Restaurant | Revolving buffet | Set-course fine dining |
| Crowds | Very busy | Busy, but better crowd management |
The honest answer: They are different experiences. The Pearl Tower feels playful and nostalgic. The Shanghai Tower feels futuristic and elegant. If you have time, visit both. If you only have time for one, choose based on your mood – not which has the “better” view.
Academic research confirms that the two towers complement each other visually. From certain angles along the Bund, their height ratio creates what researchers call “visual preference” – the two towers frame the skyline together, each enhancing the other .
Special Events and Cultural Programs
The tower does not just stand there. It actively hosts events throughout the year.
Annual traditions:
- New Year‘s Day Climb: A charity stair-climbing event held every January 1st. Now in its 31st year (2026) .
- Earth Hour: The tower switches off its decorative lights for one hour in March.
- Lighting campaigns: Pink for International Women‘s Day (March 8), blue for World Autism Awareness Day (April 2) .
Recent collaborations (2026): The tower has been leaning into pop culture. Recent and upcoming events include:
- My Little Pony themed garden (Spring 2026)
- Doraemon, Chiikawa, and Peppa Pig exhibits (2025)
- Mayday and Jay Chou themed events
The 2026 annual theme is “潮前一步” (One Step Ahead) , focusing on integrating culture, tourism, sports, and commerce .
The Nighttime Light Show
Do not leave immediately after dark. The tower‘s lighting system is worth seeing.
The lights change colors in programmed sequences, with over 1,000 possible variations . The tower participates in seasonal and event-specific lighting campaigns. The reflection on the Huangpu River doubles the visual impact.
On clear nights, walk to the riverside promenade in front of the tower. The reflection of the lights on the water is the classic Shanghai postcard image .
The View from Outside
Here is a controversial opinion: The Oriental Pearl Tower looks better from a distance than it does from inside.
From across the river on the Bund, the tower‘s full form is visible. The spheres, the slender columns, the antenna reaching into the sky – the silhouette is unmistakable. This is the image that has represented Shanghai‘s modernization for three decades .
Best photo spots:
- The Bund (Puxi side): Classic postcard view. The tower lines up perfectly with the historic buildings in the foreground.
- Riverside park (in front of the tower): You can capture the full tower from below, framed by trees .
- Pedestrian bridge near the tower: Climb up for a higher angle. This spot is less crowded than the ground level .
- Nighttime reflections: The purple-pink lights against the dark water are stunning .
The Tower‘s Financial Legacy: A Surprising Success Story
The tower was built without government funding. The 230 million RMB construction cost was covered by a combination of bank loans and a very early use of public share offerings .
The revenue from ticket sales and events paid off the construction loans in less than six years. By the end of 2016, the total revenue generated by the tower was 9.35 times the original investment .
It became, in the words of one official, “a money-printing machine” – a remarkable outcome for a project that many thought would fail .
Who Is This Tower For?
Families: The museum, the glass floor (for older kids), and the buffet restaurant make this a solid half-day activity. Skip the space module if younger children are tired.
Couples: The revolving restaurant at sunset is the classic date option. Book a window seat.
Solo travelers: The two-sphere ticket is fine. Bring headphones and listen to music while you stare at the city. No one bothers you.
First-time visitors to Shanghai: This is non-negotiable. You have to do it once.
Return visitors: The rotating restaurant package offers a different experience from the standard sightseeing ticket. The IP collaborations (like the My Little Pony event in spring 2026) provide seasonal variety .
Final Thoughts
The Oriental Pearl Tower is not the tallest building in Shanghai anymore. It is not the most technologically advanced. It is not even the most popular observation deck – the Shanghai Tower now claims that title.
But it was the first. It was the tower that proved Pudong could become a world-class destination . It was the tower that gave Shanghai its modern icon.
Stand on the Bund at sunset. Look across the river. The tower is still there, glowing against the sky, the same way it has for thirty years.
That counts for something.
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