Oriental Pearl Tower – Tickets, Highlights, and Tips

Shanghai architectures

The oriental pearl tower (东方明珠) was built in 1991, put in use in 1994, and opened to the public in 1995. Standing at 468 meters (1535 feet), It is one of the earliest skyscrapers in Shanghai and still the sixth-highest building in Asia, 9^th highest building worldwide. It is the pride and icon of this metropolis, and there was even a popular song about it in the late 1990s.

It includes three major spheres at 1148 feet, 876 feet, and 296 feet, respectively, and is integrated with various functions, like sightseeing, dining, shopping, entertaining, exhibition, performance, and transmitting TV and radio signals.

Basic information
Location and Transportation
Highlights of Oriental Pearl Tower
Vlog about Oriental Pearl Tower
Useful Tips Summarized from Reviews
Interesting Facts
Attractions Near Oriental Pearl Tower

Basic information

Website	https://www.orientalpearltower.com/
Estimated Length of tour	1-3 hours
Opening hours	09.00 – 21.00 throughout the year
Last entry	20.30

Ticket price

The Tower	Package A: 220 RMB: 3 spheres + Shanghai history museum on the ground floor Package B: 219 RMB: The lowest and second spheres + Shanghai history museum and landmark gallery on the ground floor Package C: 199 RMB: The lowest and second spheres + Shanghai history museum on the ground floor
The Revolving Restaurant	Package D: 368 RMB: The lowest and second spheres + Shanghai history museum on the ground floor + buffet in the revolving restaurant Package E: 458 RMB for two people: The second sphere + afternoon tea in the revolving restaurant
The Cruise	Package F: 259 RMB: The lowest and second spheres + Shanghai history museum on the ground floor + cruise trip on Huangpu River (45 minutes) Package G: 160 RMB: Cruise trip on Huangpu River in a stateroom (45 minutes) Package H: 130 RMB: Cruise trip on Huangpu River in first class (45 minutes)
Children	enjoy a half-price discount between 1 and 1.4 meters free of charge below 1 meter

Location and Transportation

The Oriental Pearl TV tower is located in Lujiazui, in the Pudong district, right opposite the bund across the Huangpu River. To get there, you can take the bus, subway, or drive yourself.

Bus: Take bus 82 or 314 and get off at Lujiazui Huanlu Fenghelu Station.

Subway: Take subway line 2, get off at Lujiazui Station, leave the station from exit 2 and walk northwest for about 370 meters

Self-drive: There are plenty of parking lots near the Oriental Pearl Tower. You never need to worry about the parking space.

Highlights of Oriental Pearl Tower

A bird’s eye view of the city

As one of the highest buildings in Shanghai, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the metropolis in the highest sphere (the Space Module) at 351 meters (1151 feet). According to the reviews of former tourists, it is the most impressive scenery when the night falls, and various landscape lights are turned on.

Transparent sky walking

The floor of the lower deck in the second sphere at 259 meters (849 feet) is made of transparent glass. Stepping on it is like walking in the air, and you can see the landscapes, roads, cars, and people right beneath you. It is a huge challenge to your gut and not very friendly to those with heart diseases.

Revolving restaurant

Also, in the second sphere, there is a revolving restaurant providing a buffet at 267 meters (875 feet). It finishes a full rotation in two hours. If you are not in a hurry, you may have a romantic dinner here and fully appreciate the night view of Shanghai.

Shanghai history museum

The history museum is on the ground floor of the tower. It introduces over 80 attractions in Shanghai and illustrates its history with wax statues, scale-down models, clay figurines, and antiques. If you want to gain a better understanding of Shanghai, you cannot miss this place.

Vlog about Oriental Pearl Tower

Useful Tips Summarized from Reviews

Optimal Visiting Time: Mornings typically have fewer visitors compared to the afternoon, especially if you’re not specifically going to see the night view. It’s recommended to visit in the morning, especially during important holidays, as the crowds tend to be lighter. Arriving around 8 a.m. is advisable for a more comfortable experience.

Reducing Queue Time: Consider purchasing tickets for the revolving buffet restaurant located in the upper half of the Oriental Pearl Tower’s second sphere at a height of 267 meters. The restaurant rotates once every two hours. However, there are time restrictions for dining: 1.5 hours for lunch and 2 hours for dinner. The advantage of dining here is that you can access the restaurant through the fast-track lane, and after dining, you can directly descend the stairs to the second sphere.

Photography Tips: The second sphere has many pillars, which may obstruct clear shots of people. However, descending one level from the second sphere (use the stairs) will lead you to the fully transparent glass-bottomed skywalk, which offers excellent photo opportunities.

Third Sphere Experience: The third sphere, which is the smallest one, houses a mini space capsule with a diameter of only 16 meters. It is 90 meters higher than the second sphere, offering a similar view but at an additional cost of 100 yuan. Many visitors regret spending the extra money, as the view is comparable to that of the second sphere. Therefore, it’s advisable to skip this option unless you are particularly interested in the novelty.