Shanghai Tower Observation Deck

The Shanghai Tower is the tallest building in China and the second tallest in the world, rising 632 metres in a twisting, tapering form meant to reduce wind loads. It dominates the Lujiazui skyline beside its neighbours, the Jin Mao Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center, and its observation deck, Top of Shanghai, sits on the 118th floor at about 546 metres, among the highest public viewpoints in any building. High-speed elevators carry visitors up in about a minute, and the ears can pop on the way. At the top the glass-walled gallery wraps all the way round, so you can look down on the neighbouring towers, the sweeping bend of the Huangpu River, the Bund and the sprawl of Puxi. On a clear day the views reach far across the Yangtze delta, while a hazy or rainy day can bring a wall of cloud, so check the forecast. There is a gallery with exhibitions on the building's construction, including the huge damper that steadies the tower in wind, and a small shop and cafe. A ticket on Viator is available with a main-deck and upper-floor option, and the attraction typically opens from morning until late evening, which lets you choose between daylight views and the lit skyline.

What makes the tower interesting is the engineering. Its triangular, spiralling form turns 120 degrees from base to top, which reduces the force of typhoon winds and the steel needed to build it. The building is arranged in stacked zones with sky lobbies and gardens, and the observation deck is the final stage of a tour that begins at ground level. A tuned mass damper, a huge suspended weight, sits higher up the tower to counter sway, and the exhibits explain how it works.

Working the visit: pick the time of day carefully. Sunset is the most atmospheric, because you see daylight, golden hour and the skyline lighting up in one visit, but it is also the busiest. Book a timed slot ahead, bring your passport as ID because tickets are normally checked, and expect security screening similar to an airport. Allow about ninety minutes in total including the queue for the lifts. The top floors can be crowded on weekends, so a weekday morning or late evening gives you more space at the glass.

Practical notes: the tower is in Lujiazui, close to the Lujiazui metro station on line 2, and it is easy to combine with the Oriental Pearl Tower area and a walk along the riverfront. The deck is climate controlled, so it works in winter, but air pollution and low cloud can make visibility poor, so a clear day is worth waiting for if your schedule allows. Tickets can cost more than other viewpoints in the city, so many travellers choose one tall tower to visit rather than several, and the Shanghai Tower is the highest and the most modern.