Oriental Pearl Tower Shanghai China: Facts, Tickets, Price & Itinerary

9 Interesting Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower Facts

Let's start with some interesting facts. Sure, you can ride the elevator, snap the photos, check the box. But knowing the story behind those pink spheres—why they're there, what they represent, how this tower came to be—doesn't just satisfy curiosity. It transforms your visit from "okay, nice view" to actually getting why this place matters.

1. When was Oriental Pearl Tower Built?

Construction started on July 30, 1991. The tower was completed on November 18, 1994, and officially opened to the public on May 1, 1995.

2. How Tall is the Oriental Pearl Tower?

The tower has a total height of 468 meters (1,535 feet), which includes its antenna spire. The highest observation deck (the Space Capsule) is 351 meters.

2 Days Shanghai Highlights Tour with the Bund, Skylines & City Walk Experience

Shanghai

City Walk 2 Days 1 Place View Detail

Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower Daytime vs Night

Visiting Oriental Pearl Tower during the day or night?

If you want to actually see Shanghai—to trace the Huangpu River with your finger, spot landmarks across the skyline, and feel like you understand the city's layout—go during the day, ideally on a weekday morning when it's quiet.

If you're chasing atmosphere—that glittering light magic, the Bund lit up across the water, the tower itself glowing and shifting colors during the 7 PM light show—night is non-negotiable.

Insider Tip: Arrive around 4:30 PM, catch golden hour and watch the sunset, and stay for the lights. You get both.

Oriental Pearl Tower Shanghai During the Day

Oriental Pearl Tower Shanghai At Night

5 Best Ways to Visit Oriental Pearl Tower

Which is the best? At A Glance

Top 1: Opposite Riverside Photos (The Free Version)

You stand across the Huangpu River on the Bund, camera in hand, and let the skyline do the work. Historic buildings at your back, Lujiazui's futuristic towers glowing across the water. No tickets, no security checks. Best iconic photos may come – Just you, the river, and that view.

Even on crowded nights, you can usually squeeze into the second row and hold your camera above heads.

Walk 5 minutes east to Zhapulu Bridge or North Bund (Metro Line 12, International Passenger Transport Center Station) for the same view with half the crowds.

Pudong skylines on the eastern bank of the Huangpu River

Top 2: Classic Tower Climb

This is the full experience. Start at the 0m Shanghai History Museum (most tourists skip it—don't be most tourists), then ride the high-speed elevator to 263m main observation deck for 360° views. Walk down to the 259m glass skywalk and test your nerve standing above Lujiazui. Finish at the 90m outdoor corridor for clear, glass-free photos.

The Night View Along Huangpu River

Top 3: Glass Skywalk Challenge

You head straight for the 259m transparent skywalk, and you do not leave until you've got the shot. The glass floor stretches 360° around the tower—meaning you're standing directly above Lujiazui, traffic crawling 259 meters below your feet. It's equal parts thrilling and terrifying.

Oriental Pearl Tower Shanghai Glass Walking

Top 4: Romantic High-Altitude Date

You book the 267m revolving restaurant for dinner (5:00-9:00 PM slot) and request a window table. Then eat your way through the buffet as the restaurant slowly rotates—one full circle every two hours.

The city transition: golden sunset → deep twilight → glittering nightscape.

After dinner, you head up to the 263m observation deck for post-dinner photos with smaller crowds. Then you descend, holding hands, feeling like the main characters in a rom-com.

Book at least a week in advance and specifically request a window table.

Oriental Pearl Tower Shanghai Restaurant & Dining

Top 5: Oriental Pearl + Huangpu River Night Cruise

Eenter the tower around 4:00-5:00 PM, head straight to the 263m deck, and stake out a spot. Sunset comes. You watch the city lights flicker on one by one. Around 7:00 PM, you head down, walk or taxi to Shiliupu Wharf, and board the 7:30 or 8:00 PM Huangpu River cruise.

For 45 minutes, you drift past the Bund's illuminated heritage buildings while looking up at the very tower you were just inside. Two perspectives. One night. No regrets.

On the cruise, grab an open-air spot on the upper deck. Avoid glass reflections at all costs.

Huangpu River Ferry

Oriental Pearl Tower Photography Tips

Getting a great shot of the Oriental Pearl Tower isn't just about having a good camera—it's about knowing exactly when and where to stand. Here are the best photography spots, from up in the tower down to street level, with practical details you can actually use.

On-Tower Photo Spots

Ground-Level Photo Spots

Distant & Specialty Views

Where is Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower & How to Get There?

The Oriental Pearl Tower is located at No. 1 Century Avenue, Lujiazui, Pudong New Area, Shanghai. It sits right on the banks of the Huangpu River, directly facing the historic Bund waterfront. Getting there and crossing between the two iconic riverbanks is straightforward with Shanghai's excellent public transport. Here is your practical guide.

How to Get to the Tower (Pudong Side)

There are metro, taxi, bus and sightseeing tunnel offered to get there.

How to Get to the Bund (Puxi Side)

To get the iconic view of the tower from across the river, you need to get to the Bund.

If you're already at the Oriental Pearl Tower and want to cross to the Bund for that view, you can cross the river via metro, ferry, taxi, etc.

Oriental Pearl Tower vs Shanghai Tower

If you're planning a trip up Shanghai's heights, you've probably noticed you have options—Which to Choose? Here's how they stack up.

Oriental Pearl Tower Shanghai

Shanghai Tower

Choose Oriental Pearl Tower if:

• You want that classic Shanghai photo with the pink spheres
• You're traveling with kids
• You want a thrilling glass-floor experience 259m up
• You're interested in Shanghai's history and 90s transformation
• You want a rotating dinner with a view

Choose Shanghai Tower if:

• You want the highest view possible (546m is hard to beat)
• You appreciate modern architecture and engineering feats
• You want unobstructed 360° photos of the entire city
• You prefer sleek, minimalist aesthetics over retro charm
• Here's the honest truth: you don't have to choose if your budget and time allows. The two towers are only 800 meters apart—about a 10-minute walk.

How to Plan a Shanghai Day Tour with Oriental Pearl Tower?

A well-planned Shanghai day tour that includes the Oriental Pearl Tower should balance iconic landmarks, cultural depth, and efficient logistics. Below is the best suggested route, which combines old and new Shanghai, ending with the tower illuminated at night.

Classic Shanghai Day Tour - A Glimpse of China's Magic City

Shanghai

Classic 1 Day 1 Place View Detail

If you are looking for more possibilities in Shanghai, you can also check our Shanghai Day Tours or Shanghai Layover Tours to get inspired.

• Morning—Shanghai Museum & Yu Garden (9:00 AM – 12:30 PM)

Start at Shanghai Museum in People's Square, one of China's four great museums. The building itself is symbolic—shaped like an ancient bronze ding vessel. Don't try to see everything; focus on the bronze gallery. The Dake Ding (3,000-year-old food vessel) and Zizhongjiang Plate (where carved fish appear to swim when filled with water) are the highlights. Free entry, but closed Mondays.

A 10-minute walk brings you to Yu Garden, Shanghai's most celebrated classical garden. Built in 1559 during the Ming Dynasty, it's a maze of winding paths, rockeries, and quiet ponds. Cross the Nine-Bend Bridge—according to feng shui, spirits can only travel straight lines, so the zigzag keeps them away. The Huxin Pavilion teahouse in the middle has been serving tea for over 160 years.

Exit through Yuyuan Bazaar for your first Shanghai snacks: xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and shengjianbao (pan-fried pork buns). Eat standing at small counters—this is grazing, not dining. Yu Garden is also closed on Mondays; the City God Temple nearby remains open.

• Midday: The Bund, River Crossing & Shanghai Tower (12:30 PM – 4:00 PM)

From the bazaar, walk east through Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, China's most famous shopping strip. In 10 minutes you'll reach the Bund. Behind you stand 52 historic buildings—the former banks of 1930s Shanghai. Across the river, the Lujiazui skyline rises like a sci-fi film, with the Oriental Pearl's pink spheres and the "kitchen three-piece set" (locals call them syringe, bottle opener, and eggbeater). This is your first postcard moment.

Walk south along the Bund to Jinling East Road Pier and take the public ferry across the Huangpu River. It costs 2 RMB, takes 10 minutes, and offers a water-level view no sightseeing boat can match. From the upper deck, watch the old city shrink behind you as the towers grow closer. The Oriental Pearl gets larger with every second.

From the ferry terminal, it's a 10-minute walk to Shanghai Tower, China's tallest building at 632 meters. Take the world's fastest elevator (55 seconds to the top) to the 118th-floor observation deck at 546 meters. The view is 360° and unobstructed—and here's the magic: you look down on the Oriental Pearl Tower. From this height, its famous pink spheres become tiny ornaments below you. The entire city stretches to the horizon. Book tickets online to skip queues.

• Late Afternoon: Lujiazui Walk & Riverside Views (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM)

After descending, spend an hour exploring the base of Lujiazui's towers. Walk to the foot of the Oriental Pearl Tower—even without going up, standing beneath its massive spheres gives you a sense of its scale. The contrast between its retro-futuristic 90s design and the sleek glass of Shanghai Tower next door tells the story of Shanghai's breakneck development.

Walk toward the river along Binjiang Avenue, a promenade that runs parallel to the Bund but on the Pudong side. From here, you get the reverse view: the historic Bund skyline across the water, with the Oriental Pearlframed perfectly behind you. Benches line the path—sit for a while and watch the river traffic. Container ships, ferries, and sightseeing boats glide past as the light softens toward evening.

• Evening: Back to the Bund for Night Views (6:30 PM – 8:00 PM)

Take the ferry back across the river (or one stop on Metro Line 2) to the Bund. Find a spot along the central railings around 6:30 PM—you want to watch the transition.

First comes sunset. The sky shifts through gold and pink as the last light catches the Oriental Pearl's spheres. Then, gradually, the towers begin to glow. By 7:00 PM, the skyline is fully illuminated.

At the top of each hour (7, 8, 9 PM), the lights synchronize for a 10-minute display—colors shift across the Oriental Pearl's spheres, light sweeps up Shanghai Tower's twisting facade, and the whole skyline seems to breathe. Find a spot, lean on the railing, and just watch. This is the moment every postcard promised.

Optional: If you want the full water-level perspective, take a 45-minute Huangpu River night cruise from Shiliupu Wharf. Seeing both the illuminated Bund and Lujiazui from the water, with the city's lights trailing across the river's surface, adds a final layer.