Oriental Pearl Radio and TV Tower

The Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower is an icon of Shanghai, located in Lujiazui, Pudong New Area, it stands at about 468 meters high. The building was built in July 1991 and put into use in May 1995. It’s fascinating design featuring three angled stanchions supporting it’s spheres give it the appearance of something from a Jetsons movie. It’s on my list as a must-visit attraction in Shanghai.

Oriental Pearl TV Tower is a government rated AAAAA-class tourist attraction. For visitors, there are 3 main sightseeing levels, a fully transparent elevator that shuttles between the spheres, the Oriental Pearl Science Fantasy World, the Revolving Restaurant and the Shanghai Municipal History Museum located in the buildings basement.

The Space Capsule (or 3rd/upper sphere)

350 meters high. Has a space theme to it, kinda like a dated space film from the 90’s, which I guess is fair as this is when it was built.

The glass floor which is in the 2nd sphere

The 2nd Sphere (main sightseeing floor)

259 meters high. This sphere has three levels and provides the best viewing opportunities including the ever popular sightseeing floor where you can walk on large glass tiles and admire the city below! The Revolving Restaurant is in this sphere, costs are buffet lunch: 11:00-14:00; CNY 298 and buffet dinner: 17:00-21:00; CNY 328.

The 1st Sphere ( Space City)

90 meters high. Also has good viewing opportunities and this floor has some other attractions.

Shanghai Municipal History Museum

Focuses on the period from 1860 and 1949 and features scaled down and life-size recreations of life at those times. Also features many relics. At 35 CNY it’s top value and can easily fill in an hour.

Tickets

Ticket A: 220 CNY for everything inc. Shanghai History Museum + 1st sphere +  2nd sphere +  3rd sphere, inc guide for the 3rd sphere.

Ticket B: 160 CNY for the Shanghai Municipal History Museum + 1st sphere + the 2nd sphere

Ticket C: 35 CNY for Shanghai History Museum

Revolving Restaurant in the 2nd sphere

Getting There

You can get there via metro, bus, or if you are coming from the Bund, the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel will put you right here. You can also use a ferry to cross the river.