The Oriental Pearl Tower is the building that announced the new Shanghai. Finished in the mid-1990s on the Lujiazui riverbank, when Pudong was still a field of warehouses and the skyline across the river had little to compete with the Bund, it rises about 468 metres on three slim columns that carry a series of glowing spheres. The design reads as a string of pearls dropped onto a jade plate, which is exactly the poetry of the name, and from almost anywhere in the city centre you can pick out the big pink globes against the haze. For a generation of visitors it was the only tall building worth queuing for, and it remains the most recognisable silhouette in the city even though the Shanghai Tower, the Jin Mao Tower and the World Financial Center now stand taller beside it. Inside, the tower works as a vertical stack of experiences. A fast lift takes you up to the lower sphere and the observation level, where the view looks straight across the Huangpu at the Bund and along the river in both directions. Higher up, a smaller sphere offers a more distant panorama, and there is a glass-floored walkway for anyone who enjoys watching the traffic crawl far below their feet. A revolving restaurant sits at one of the upper levels and turns slowly enough that a meal gives you a full circuit of the skyline. The base of the tower holds shops and exhibition space, which can fill an extra half hour if the weather is poor and the views are limited.
What sets the Pearl Tower apart from its taller neighbours is the position and the character. It stands right on the riverbank at the point where the Pudong skyline meets the water, so the view back across the Huangpu to the Bund is the most direct and the most photogenic of any observation deck in the city. The tower is also frankly a little retro, with bright colours, glass floors and a sense of fun, and many visitors enjoy it as a contrast to the polished and quieter decks in the supertall towers nearby.
If you want the highest point in the city, choose the Shanghai Tower; if you want the classic postcard shape and the Bund at eye level, this is the one.
Working the visit
The ticket is a single-venue observation deck entry, and the product you can book in advance saves you from queueing at the window on a busy day. Go on a clear afternoon and plan to arrive an hour or so before sunset, so you can see the Bund in daylight, watch the lights come on and then see the whole skyline lit.
Weekday mornings are the quietest, while weekends, school holidays and the national holiday weeks bring long lines for the lifts. Allow about ninety minutes in total, including the wait and a slow loop of the observation levels. Check which levels your ticket includes, since the structure has several tiers and the experiences available at each can vary.
Practical notes
The nearest metro station is Lujiazui on line 2, and the tower is a short walk from the exit. The elevated circular walkway that surrounds the area gives a good approach on foot and plenty of photograph points before you go in. The riverside promenade beside the tower is a pleasant place to walk after your visit, and it connects naturally with a Huangpu River cruise, which leaves from nearby piers.
In haze or fog the upper levels can be hidden in cloud, so check the sky before you pay and think about going on another day if visibility is poor. Smart phones and cameras are fine on the platforms, but a tripod is usually not practical.
What to expect
The experience
A timed observation deck visit in Pudong, with a fast lift to the viewing spheres, a glass-floored walkway and views straight across the river to the Bund.
Best time
A clear afternoon about an hour before sunset, so you see the Bund in daylight and then the city lit; weekday mornings are the quietest.
How long
About ninety minutes including the lift queue and a slow loop of the levels.
Tips
Book ahead for busy days, check which levels your ticket includes, skip hazy days and bring a layer for the air conditioning inside.
Quick picks
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want the classic postcard tower and the most direct view of the Bund.
- Families
- A good one for children, with glass floors, bright spheres and plenty to look at; hold small hands near the glass.
- Couples
- Go for sunset, then walk the riverside promenade as the lights come on.
- Pair with
- A Huangpu River cruise, the Shanghai Tower and the Bund walk on the other bank.
- Time needed
- Ninety minutes to two hours.
Good questions
How tall is the Oriental Pearl Tower?+
It stands roughly 468 metres tall, which made it the tallest structure in China when it was completed in the mid-1990s. Several newer towers in Lujiazui are now taller.
What is the best time to visit?+
A clear afternoon, arriving about an hour before sunset, lets you see the Bund in daylight and then the lit skyline. Weekday mornings are the quietest.
Is the glass walkway worth it?+
It is a fun extra if you like heights and want a different view of the streets below, though it is not essential. Check whether it is included with your ticket.
Should I visit the Pearl Tower or the Shanghai Tower?+
The Shanghai Tower is far higher and more modern, while the Pearl Tower has the classic shape and a closer view of the Bund. If time allows, do both on different days.
How do I get there?+
Take metro line 2 to Lujiazui station. The tower is a short walk from the exit, and the riverside promenade is just beyond it.
