Shanghai Towers. Oriental Pearl Shanghai Tower
Located in Shanghai, the "Pearl of the Orient" is the third tallest in Asia and the fifth tallest in the world. TV tower. It seems to me that she is not only the pride of the Chinese, but also the favorite of directors who sometimes make films against her background. It is visible from almost anywhere in the city and attracts attention, so I wanted to visit it.
The futuristic building consists of pearls “strung” on a vertical axis, which house cafes, restaurants and observation decks. I couldn't pass by such beauty!
How to get there
To get to the TV Tower, simply take the subway to 陆家嘴站 (Lujiazui) Station, located on the Green Line (Line 2). The fare costs $0.45–1.3 (3–9 yuan). When you go out into the city, you will not miss the “Pearl of the East”.
You can get there by bus 81, 797 or 961, but I advise you to walk. The walk will take no more than 10 minutes, but will allow you to enjoy the architecture of the city and the sea air.
How to get inside
It will be difficult to get to the TV tower. We'll have to defend huge queue at the entrance (and inside the elevator it will be no less). What to do?
To avoid the queue I recommend:
- Come with a tourist group. They are always skipped in line. If you book a tour, you will spend no more than 10 minutes entering. In addition, you can choose a guide who knows Russian. However, this excludes the purchase of the most expensive ticket to enter the restaurant, and your free time will be limited. By the way, prices in the restaurant start from $45 (300 yuan) per meal.
- Arrive in the evening. The Chinese mentality is such that even in a modern and noisy city, evenings are spent in a quiet family circle. Therefore, at late hours the queue at the TV tower will be mostly foreigners. Local residents You won’t see people who culturally educate their children, and they make up the majority of visitors. In addition, in the evening, in any weather, you can enjoy the panorama of the city ablaze with lights. “Pearl of the East” hospitably welcomes visitors from 8.00 to 22.00.
Having visited the TV tower both during the day and in the evening, I can say that the evening one makes a much more impression.
Which ticket to choose?
There are different tickets. It all depends on what you want to visit and how high you want to go. If you don't plan on eating at the revolving restaurant inside, then the €27 (RMB 200) ticket is fine.
I advise you to check on the spot about other ticket options.
What to see
At the entrance, you should pay attention to the photographs of city panoramas. You will see how the city grew and changed, and therefore the TV tower.
Museum
Once inside, visit the Shanghai History Museum on the ground floor. It will really be interesting for everyone there. I was struck by the fact that the exhibition halls were full of moving exhibits, illuminated in various ways and making sounds, which suits the Shanghai style so much. It was no less surprising to observe the elements of the performance.
The museum may seem small at first, but it is actually huge. From ancient times to development prospects - everything about Shanghai is there. If you want to learn more about the history of the city, it is worth visiting the Shanghai History Museum, which is located near the Pearl of the Orient.
Observation room
And, of course, be sure to visit the observation decks. You can climb them using super-fast elevators, which are the pride of the Chinese. China's only double-deck elevator is also located on the TV tower. During the climb, which will be quite long, you will listen to a short story about this place on English language.
It is at such sites that an amazing panorama of the city opens up. There are 3 observation rooms at the “Pearl of the East”. I advise you to visit only the top one, because... If you are not afraid of heights, then the other 2 will not impress you.
At an altitude of 360 meters, you can step on the glass floor, walk along the perimeter of the “pearl”, and take unusual photographs. However, if you are afraid of heights, it is worth visiting the areas on the floors below.
Souvenirs
Souvenirs can be purchased everywhere. On the ground floor there are many shops with toys and sweets. They reminded me duty free. The best souvenirs from the “Pearl of the Orient” are sold at the observation decks, but be prepared that their prices are quite inflated.
Finally
If you find yourself in Shanghai, I advise you to visit the observation decks of the “Pearl of the Orient”, but postpone souvenirs and meals to cheaper places. I wish you a pleasant trip!
Shanghai is developing at a rapid pace and that is why you can hear the expression “Pearl of the Orient” or “Paris of the East” in relation to this city. Over the past decades, Shanghai has become the most important financial and economic center, both in China and around the world. In one of the new business districts that covers Pudong, many high-tech offices and banks have been built. Among these objects, a building stands out, which is considered one of the symbols of the city - the Oriental Pearl television tower.
This 468-meter-high tower was built in the mid-90s. The construction technology is reinforced concrete cylinders, each 9 meters in diameter. Each structure is at a different height and is shaped like a pearl.
The “Oriental Pearl” is located in the east of Huangpu and is surrounded on both sides by bridges – Yangpu and Nanpu. These bridges represent two dragons who seem to be playing with pearls.
In addition, the television tower is the tallest in Asia, and in the world it holds third position, behind the Toronto television center and Moscow's Ostankino. The size of the “Oriental Pearl” is not the most important thing - the design of the building is beyond all praise and analogues in the world. Therefore, this place is very popular for tourists.
This TV tower was built in a very limited time. In just four years - 1991-1995. The project was carried out by Chinese engineer Jia Huangchen. It's amazing that the Oriental Pearl was able to absorb traditional Chinese style along with new technologies modern world. Regarding the panorama, everything here is also at its best: the glass “pearls” shine, and the green lawn resembles a jade field.
A tour of the tower can be done using a double-deck elevator, which can simultaneously lift up to 50 people. Of course, the second option is also possible - high-speed elevators that rise upward at a speed of 7 m/sec. These elevators will take you directly to the observation deck, which has the name “Space Module”. Visitors will find themselves at a height of 350 meters and will be able to see a never-before-seen Shanghai from the middle of the tower. During the day, when there are no clouds, you can also see the Yangtze River.
The first floor of the television tower is equipped as a museum of the history of the city, where, thanks to the interior and wax figures, the life and traditions of the Chinese people are shown authentically and interestingly. Scenes from real life are shown here on a huge stone screen made of emeralds, jades, pearls and other natural stones.
Each sphere, and there are three of them, houses shops, boutiques and galleries. At the very bottom there is “Space City”, where everyone will be interested in finding themselves in the fascinating world of science fiction. The middle part is equipped for a hotel and business premises. This complex contains 25 rooms for visitors, as well as several conference rooms. If you find yourself between the second and third spheres, you can visit the “Pearl of the East” - a restaurant that is at the highest point among all restaurants in Asia and makes a full revolution around its axis in one hour. The third pearl is located at around 267 meters, and it serves observation tower, where a club, shops and a concert hall are also located.
Every year there are many visitors here, but, of course, the main function of this serious facility is television and radio broadcasting. The broadcast tower includes 9 TV channels and 10 radio stations, and the broadcast radius reaches 44 miles.
The symbol of modern Shanghai, one of its unique attractions, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower was built back in 1994. Today it is the tallest in Asia and the third tallest in the world, second only to the towers in Toronto and Moscow, being 468 meters high.
Just like all television towers, the Oriental Pearl not only performs its direct functions of broadcasting television programs, there are also restaurants, tea shops, and souvenir shops on its premises. There is even a museum here, so a visit to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Shanghai is one of the mandatory points in the program of tourist excursions.
I would like to note that even going up to the observation deck will be unforgettable, because the TV tower has a two-story elevator, the only one in the country where up to 50 people can ride simultaneously at a speed of 4 m/s.
Unusual TV tower design
The appearance of the tower is beautiful; spheres of different diameters seem to be strung on its base. The largest one has observation decks; it’s definitely worth visiting here and taking in the whole of Shanghai. The highest of the platforms allows you to view the city from a height of 360 meters. After visiting the ball, which is located just below, you can visit the revolving restaurant, which serves delicious dishes from the best cuisines in the world. There is also karaoke here; 25 special rooms are equipped for this.
Yes, and, despite all the popularity and modernity of the Chinese landmark, its image is quite consistent with the sayings of the ancients. Even here, there was some antiquity, like large and small pearls falling into a dish of jasper, the sages knew what they were talking about, and perhaps foresaw the future.
Shanghai History Museum: everything is accurate and thorough
The history of the country and the city can be studied in detail at the Shanghai History Museum, which is located on the first floor of the tower. The history of the people who lived in these places many years ago is described in detail here; scenes from everyday life will be especially interesting; scenery and wax figures were used to recreate them.
However, all the splendor of the Eastern Pearl does not fade away with the onset of night, but only increases, because at these moments the lights and lanterns are lit here, all this adds even more mystery and unusualness to the tower. It fits perfectly into the lights of the city at night, maintaining its irresistibility and uniqueness.
Helpful information
Address: No. 1 Century Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 200120, China.
Entrance to the TV tower - paid.
Working hours: 08:00 - 19:30.
How to get to the Eastern Pearl:
- by bus: No. 81, 82, 85, 583, 774, 795, 798, 799, 870, 961, 971, 985, 992, 993 or 996 to Oriental Pearl Station (Dong Fang Ming Zhu).
- Take Subway No.2 to Lu Jia Zui Station (陆家嘴站), and then walk about 300 meters to the Oriental Pearl Tower.
If you are interested in older architecture, it is worth a look
TV Tower "Pearl of the Orient" (China) - description, history, location. The exact address, phone, website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.
- Last minute tours To China
- Tours for the New Year Worldwide
The Chinese city of Shanghai, which has the unofficial names “Pearl of the Orient” and “Paris of the East,” is growing and evolving rapidly, gaining more and more important economic and financial positions in the world. Shanghai's Pudong business district is home to many state-of-the-art office and banking buildings.
What stands out from all this splendor is the building that has become the symbol of Shanghai - the tallest in Asia (468 m) and the third in the world, after the CN Tower in Toronto (553 m) and the Ostankino TV Tower in Moscow (540 m), the Pearl of the Orient television tower "
It was built very quickly in the mid-90s. last century, designed by the Chinese engineer Jia Huangchen.
From the height of the “Space Module”, located in the highest and largest of the spheres of the “Pearl of the East”, stunning views panoramic views Shanghai, New Pudong and the Bund.
Thanks to its size and unique architectural design, the TV tower has become the most interesting landmark of Shanghai, stunning and the most visited in the city. The successful combination of ultra-modern technologies and Chinese traditions in the design of the tower makes the “Pearl of the East” unusually picturesque in the middle of a green lawn on the banks of the Huangpu River, between the two surrounding bridges, Yangpu and Nanpu, personifying dragons, as if playing with pearls.
The TV tower at various levels is decorated with fifteen spheres of different diameters, reminiscent, according to the authors-architects, of openwork pearls falling onto a jade dish. Visitors are taken to the observation deck of the Space Module tower at a height of 267 m by a double-deck elevator that can accommodate up to fifty people at a time, or by a high-speed elevator that takes off at a speed of 7 m per second.
From the height of the Space Module, located in the highest and largest of the Oriental Pearl's spheres, stunning panoramic views of Shanghai, New Pudong and the Bund can be seen, even the mouth of the great Yangtze River on a fine clear day.
The observation deck can accommodate up to sixteen hundred people for sightseeing.
The first floor of the TV tower is dedicated to the Shanghai History Museum, where wax figures in the interiors and wonderful oriental music surprisingly vividly recreate the life of the Chinese people. The Pearl spheres contain galleries and shops. Works in the lowest sphere Entertainment Center“Space City”, immersing visitors into the world of science fiction. In the middle part of the tower there is a hotel business complex, which includes 25 guest rooms and conference rooms.
You can dine and enjoy yourself in the revolving restaurant “Pearl of the East”, between the second and third spheres, which makes a full rotation every hour. This is the only restaurant of its kind in all of Asia at this altitude.
In the “pearl” where it is located Observation deck, there is also a club, concert hall and shops.
In this wonderful place, recognizable architectural symbol Shanghai, there are a huge number of visitors every year, and yet the main purpose of the tower is to provide special services for television and radio communications. The tower broadcasts programs from nine television channels and ten radio stations within a radius of 44 miles.
How to get there
Take the metro to Lujiazui station. Or from railway station cross the road via an overpass.
Working hours
You can get to the “Pearl of the East” TV tower from 8:30 to 21:30.
Ticket price
Entrance to all levels costs about 220 CNY (Chinese Yuan), a ticket to the museum costs 35 CNY.
Prices on the page are as of September 2018.
Oriental Pearl Tower (Oriental Pearl Tower)- one of the tallest television towers in the world and a symbol of Shanghai.
general information
At the Pearl of the East TV Tower there is an observation deck with a transparent bottom. The cost of a lift ticket depends on the altitude level. There are three of them: 90, 263 and 350 meters. If you want to save money, take the climb up to 263 meters. At this height there is a completely normal view of the city and a transparent floor underfoot. At the same time, the cost savings are significant.
IN tourist season be prepared to queue for the elevators. This may take about an hour or more.
Photos of the Oriental Pearl Tower
Tower Pearl of the East
Ticket office at the entrance. Notice how people crowd into one cash register when the other is almost free.
At the top of the tower
Sometimes fog hangs over Shanghai, which makes it difficult to do nice photos.
In addition, the glass in the tower is not the most transparent, so if you are going to take photographs and take good photos, take polarizing filters.
