Shanghai Tower is located in the Lujiazui Financial and Trade Zone, Pudong New Area, Shanghai. It is one of the "Three-piece Set" of the Lujiazui Financial Center in Shanghai and a landmark super high-rise skyscraper in the city. Adopting a spiral upward architectural form, it integrates traditional Chinese architectural aesthetics with modern engineering technology. Its facade twists gradually as the height increases, which not only reduces wind load but also creates a unique visual effect. The tower has a total height of 632 meters, with 127 floors above ground and 5 floors underground, covering a total construction area of approximately 578,000 square meters. Among them, the office area accounts for about 220,000 square meters, the commercial area about 50,000 square meters, the hotel area about 45,000 square meters, and the sightseeing area about 30,000 square meters. As a multi-functional super high-rise building, it integrates offices, hotels, commerce, sightseeing, exhibitions and other functions. It is a core part of Shanghai's urban skyline and one of the world's tallest green energy-saving buildings, adopting a number of energy-saving and environmental protection technologies such as double-layer glass curtain walls, rainwater recycling systems, and ground-source heat pumps.
History and Culture
The construction background of Shanghai Tower is closely linked to the development of the Lujiazui Financial District in Shanghai. Since the 1990s, Lujiazui, as the core area of Shanghai's opening up to the outside world, has gradually emerged as an international financial center. To meet the needs of high-end business in the area and the construction of urban landmarks, the construction plan of Shanghai Tower was put on the agenda. On November 29, 2008, the construction of Shanghai Tower officially started. This project embodies the wisdom of Chinese and foreign design teams. Designed by the American architectural design firm Gensler in cooperation with East China Architectural Design & Research Institute, it has overcome a number of world-class engineering challenges such as wind resistance, earthquake resistance and vertical transportation for super high-rise buildings.
In terms of cultural connotation, the design of Shanghai Tower incorporates traditional Chinese cultural elements. Its spiral upward shape is inspired by the traditional Chinese "dragon" totem, symbolizing Shanghai's spirit of continuous upward development and vigorous progress; the number of floors and height of the building also imply Chinese cultural meanings. The height of 632 meters not only meets the needs of modern engineering, but also echoes the auspicious interpretation of numbers in traditional Chinese culture. On March 12, 2016, Shanghai Tower was officially completed and put into operation, becoming an important milestone in Shanghai's urban development. It not only witnessed the transformation of Lujiazui from farmland to an international financial center, but also carries Shanghai's vision of building a global city, serving as an important carrier for cultural exchanges and business contacts between China and foreign countries.
Main Attractions
Top of Shanghai Observatory
The Top of Shanghai Observatory is located on the 118th and 119th floors of Shanghai Tower. The 118th floor observatory is 546 meters high and the 119th floor is 552 meters high, making it one of the world's highest indoor observatories. Equipped with fully transparent floor-to-ceiling viewing windows, it offers a 360-degree panoramic view of Shanghai. Visitors can clearly see the Bund's International Architecture Exhibition, the Huangpu River, the Oriental Pearl Tower and other iconic Shanghai landmarks. On clear days, the view can even extend to Chongming Island. The observatory also features the "Sky Walk" suspended viewing corridor, whose floor is made of transparent glass. Standing on it, visitors can face the urban scenery below directly, bringing a strong visual impact and experience.
Duo Yun Xuan Bookstore Flagship Store
Duo Yun Xuan Bookstore Flagship Store is located on the 52nd floor of Shanghai Tower, about 239 meters high. It is the highest-altitude bookstore in Shanghai and a cultural space integrating reading, cultural and creative products, coffee and sightseeing. The bookstore is divided into two areas: "Cloud Bookstore" and "Cloud Secret Land", with a collection of nearly 10,000 books covering various categories such as literature, art, history and philosophy, and also sells various characteristic cultural and creative products. There are viewing seats in the bookstore, allowing readers to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Lujiazui and the Huangpu River while reading. It has become a distinctive attraction combining cultural experience and urban sightseeing, adding a strong cultural atmosphere to Shanghai Tower.
Shanghai Tower B1 Floor Art Gallery
The Shanghai Tower B1 Floor Art Gallery is a public space connecting the subway entrances/exits and the interior of the tower, covering a total area of about 2,000 square meters. It hosts various art exhibitions and cultural activities all year round, including painting, sculpture, photography, installation art and other art forms. It is not only a public supporting area of the tower, but also a window to display art and culture to citizens and tourists. The regularly updated exhibition content attracts many art lovers to visit, becoming an important part of the diversified experience of Shanghai Tower.
Recommended Tour Route
Recommended Tour Route: First, enter Shanghai Tower through Gate 1 and go to the B1 Floor Art Gallery to visit the current art exhibitions and feel the cultural atmosphere of the tower, with a visiting time of about 30 minutes; then take the high-speed elevator to the 52nd floor Duo Yun Xuan Bookstore Flagship Store, select books, taste coffee and enjoy the high-altitude urban scenery at the same time, staying for about 1 hour; after that, take the elevator to the 118th floor Top of Shanghai Observatory, first visit the regular viewing area to enjoy the panoramic view of Shanghai, then experience the "Sky Walk" suspended viewing corridor to immerse yourself in the high-altitude view, with a visiting time of about 1.5 hours; if time permits, you can go to the commercial area on the upper floors of the tower to experience characteristic catering or cultural and creative shopping, and finally leave through Gate 3 of the tower. The whole route takes about 3-4 hours, which can balance cultural experience, high-altitude sightseeing and leisure consumption, allowing you to fully experience the characteristics of Shanghai Tower.
Travel Tips
- Best Time to Visit: It is recommended to go on a sunny day, especially between 9:00-10:00 in the morning or 15:00-16:00 in the afternoon. At this time, the light is suitable and the visibility is high, which is convenient for viewing the urban panorama; if you want to enjoy the night view, you can enter between 17:00-19:00 in the evening, so that you can see the urban scenery during the day and witness the beautiful night view of Shanghai as the lights come on. The observatory is open until 22:00 at night (subject to the opening hours of the day).
- Recommended Duration: It is recommended to reserve 3-4 hours, including at least 1.5 hours for the observatory, 1 hour for Duo Yun Xuan Bookstore, and 0.5-1 hour for the art gallery and other areas.
- Items to Bring: It is recommended to bring mobile phones, cameras and other shooting equipment. The observatory has sufficient light, which is suitable for taking panoramic photos of the city; if you go to Duo Yun Xuan Bookstore, you can bring a lightweight notebook or books to experience the reading atmosphere; if you go in summer, you need to bring sun protection products. Although the high-rise observatory is air-conditioned, the light near the viewing windows is relatively strong.
- Catering Suggestions: There are various catering brands on the 5th floor and B1 floor of the tower, covering fast food, coffee, characteristic Chinese food, etc. Duo Yun Xuan Bookstore also provides light meals such as coffee and desserts. You can choose according to your needs to avoid delaying the travel time due to eating out.
- Crowd Adaptation: When traveling with the elderly and children, it is recommended to slow down the pace of the trip. There are rest areas in the observatory where you can rest at any time; the "Sky Walk" suspended viewing corridor is not mandatory for people with acrophobia, and you can choose according to your own situation.
Notes
- To enter the Top of Shanghai Observatory, you need to present valid tickets and ID documents. Tickets need to be booked and purchased in advance with real names. You need to cooperate with security checks when entering the park. Carrying flammable and explosive materials, controlled knives, pets (except guide dogs) and other items is prohibited.
- The high-speed elevator runs extremely fast (with a maximum speed of 18 meters per second). Some people may experience ear pressure discomfort. You can relieve it by swallowing, yawning and other methods when taking it. The elderly and children need to be accompanied by adults when taking the elevator.
- Climbing and knocking on the transparent viewing glass in the observatory are prohibited. Using large shooting equipment such as tripods is prohibited (advance reporting and application are required). Shouting loudly and chasing and playing in the viewing area are prohibited.
- Loud talking is prohibited in Duo Yun Xuan Bookstore to maintain a quiet reading environment. Books should be taken good care of and shall not be scribbled or damaged at will. In the consumption area, you need to order first before taking a seat.
- Smoking is prohibited in all areas of the tower, including concealed areas such as toilets and stairwells. Violators will be punished in accordance with relevant regulations.
- In case of extreme weather (such as typhoons, heavy rains, heavy fog), the Top of Shanghai Observatory may be temporarily closed. Before traveling, you can check the real-time opening status through the official WeChat public account of Shanghai Tower.
- Take good care of your personal belongings. Pay attention to theft prevention in crowded areas such as the observatory and bookstore. Children need to be supervised by adults throughout the trip to avoid getting lost.
Transportation
- Subway: Take Shanghai Metro Line 2 to Lujiazui Station, exit from Exit 6, and walk for about 5 minutes to reach Gate 1 of Shanghai Tower; you can also take Shanghai Metro Line 14 to Lujiazui Station, and walk for about 8 minutes after exiting the station.
- Bus: Take bus routes such as No. 82, No. 870, No. 939, No. 961, No. 799 to Lujiazui Ring Road Fenghe Road Station, and walk for about 3 minutes after getting off; or take the Lujiazui Financial City Loop Bus to Shanghai Tower Station.
- Self-driving: If you drive by yourself, you can navigate to the underground parking lot of Shanghai Tower. The entrance of the parking lot is located on Yincheng Middle Road.
- Ferry: Take the Dongjin Line Ferry (Dongchang Road Ferry Terminal - Jinling East Road Ferry Terminal) to Dongchang Road Ferry Terminal, and walk for about 15 minutes to reach Shanghai Tower; or take the Dongfu Line Ferry (Dongchang Road Ferry Terminal - Fuxing East Road Ferry Terminal), and transfer to a bus or walk after exiting the station.
Opening Hours
The Top of Shanghai Observatory is open from 9:00 to 22:00 every day from Monday to Sunday, and the latest entry time is 21:00; Duo Yun Xuan Bookstore Flagship Store is open from 10:00 to 20:00 every day from Monday to Sunday, and the opening hours remain unchanged on holidays. It may be extended to 20:30 on some legal holidays (subject to the on-site announcement of the bookstore); the B1 Floor Art Gallery is open from 8:00 to 22:00 every day from Monday to Sunday; the office area of the tower is only open to staff and not open to the public. In addition, during major holidays such as the Spring Festival and National Day every year, the opening hours of the observatory may be adjusted and will be announced in advance through official channels; in case of special circumstances such as equipment maintenance and extreme weather, some areas may be temporarily closed, and visitors can check and confirm in advance.
Tickets
The ticket price for the Top of Shanghai Observatory of Shanghai Tower is 180 yuan per person. You can search for the mini-program "上海中心大厦" on WeChat to buy tickets online.
Online Booking
Click here to jump to the Trip.com ticketing platform for ticket purchase.