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Shanghai Tower

Shanghai Tower上海中心大厦

At 632 m, Shanghai Tower is China's tallest building and the second tallest in the world, behind only Dubai's Burj Khalifa. Its dragon-inspired spiral form — the glass curtain wall twisting as it rises — gives it one of the most striking silhouettes in modern Shanghai. The observation deck on the 118th floor offers the city's newest and highest vantage point.

Shanghai · Visitor Guide2026-10-27
Shanghai Tower
Shanghai Tower
Shanghai Tower
Shanghai Tower

Quick Answer

Is Shanghai Tower worth visiting?

Shanghai Tower is China's tallest building at 632 m — second tallest in the world, designed as a dragon-like spiraling form.

Quick facts

TicketObservation deck CNY 180
Hours9:00-21:00
Recommended duration1-2 hours
Best time to visitAt sunset
How to get thereMetro Line 2 to Lujiazui, then a 15-minute walk; or Line 14 to Lujiazui
English signageYes
Wheelchair accessibleYes
Height632 m
RankingTallest in China, second in the world
Completed2015
Floors127 above ground
DesignGensler's dragon-inspired spiral
Observation deck118th floor

What to expect

Designed by the American firm Gensler and inspired by the dragon of Chinese tradition, Shanghai Tower's glass curtain wall twists upward like a coiling dragon. The facade rotates through 120 degrees — an aesthetic gesture that also cuts the wind load effectively.

The observation deck occupies the 118th floor at 552 m, higher than the Oriental Pearl Tower's main deck. Through special glass you can look down clearly over all of Lujiazui and the Bund's riverside buildings — a view with real visual punch.

The deck has a sky post office for mailing postcards, plus interactive exhibits on the tower's construction and its engineering innovations. Ride down afterward in elevators that reach 18 meters per second — among the fastest in the world.

How to get there

Metro Line 2 to Lujiazui, Exit 6, then a 15-minute walk along Lujiazui Ring Road.

Best photo spots

  • Looking up at the coiled-dragon form from the tower's base
  • Views down from the observation deck
  • Shots pairing the tower with the Oriental Pearl Tower
  • Reflections in the observation deck glass

Tips

  • Buy tickets online in advance and aim for the sunset slot
  • Deck capacity is limited — reserve ahead
  • Bring a camera and mind the glass reflections when shooting
  • Pair a visit with the J Hotel in the tower's lower levels

Scams to avoid

  • Beware unofficial ticket channels
  • Don't believe so-called "insider tickets"

Frequently asked questions

Shanghai Tower or Oriental Pearl Tower?

Shanghai Tower is newer and taller; the Oriental Pearl carries more historic resonance. Both are worth it — two different views of the city.

Does rain affect a visit?

The tower opens as normal; droplets on the glass may affect photos.

How long does a visit take?

About 1-2 hours.

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Other things to do in Shanghai

Jing'an Temple

Shanghai's oldest and most famous temple, Jing'an Temple, founded in 247 in the Three Kingdoms era; the 50 yuan ticket includes three incense sticks, open 7:30-17:00.

Century Park

Century Park is Pudong's largest green space at 140 hectares — sweeping lawns, flower seasons and open-air music festivals; entry CNY 20.

City God Temple (Chenghuang Temple)

The spiritual heart of old Shanghai, anchoring the Yuyuan Garden bazaar and its sprawling small-commodities market. Temple entry CNY 10.

Sweet Love Road (Tian'ai Road)

Sweet Love Road (Tian'ai Road) is Shanghai's most romantic street — a 300 m tunnel of plane trees and a favorite photo stop.

French Concession

Shanghai's leafy plane-tree quarter, the French Concession of 1849-1943; free to wander, shops about 10:00-20:00, by Jiaotong University or Shanghai Library metro stations.

Jade Buddha Temple

Famous Shanghai Buddhist temple of 1918 with two Burmese jade Buddhas, seated 1.9 m and reclining 4.6 m; entry 30 yuan, 8:00-17:00, 10 minutes' walk from Jiangning Road station.

Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street

China's busiest shopping street in Shanghai, about 1.2 km long with over 100 years of history and roughly 1 million visitors a day; free, malls 10:00-22:00.

Oriental Pearl Tower

The Oriental Pearl Tower is Shanghai's 468 m landmark, with a revolving restaurant and one of the city's best vantage points over the night skyline.

People's Square

Shanghai's central square of about 140,000 sqm, free and open, ringed by the Shanghai Museum, the Grand Theatre and metro lines 1, 2 and 8.

Qibao Ancient Town

Thousand-year-old water town of Song-dynasty origin about 20 km from downtown Shanghai; free entry with a 30-yuan combo ticket, a 15-minute walk from Qibao metro station.

Shanghai Disneyland

The first Disney park on mainland China, open since June 2016 in Pudong, with the tallest Disney castle anywhere (~60 m) and rides you can't get elsewhere like TRON and the redesigned Pirates.

Shanghai Museum

China's top museum of ancient art, about 1.02 million objects in its 1995 People's Square home; free with reservation, 9:00-17:00, closed Mondays, star piece the Da Ke Ding bronze.

The Bund

Shanghai's signature waterfront: 52 historic buildings in every style — the 'Exhibition of World Architecture' — with the best night views in the city.

Shanghai World Financial Center

One of the three Lujiazui skyscrapers, nicknamed 'the bottle opener' for its trapezoid aperture, with an observation deck up on the 100th floor.

Xintiandi

Shikumen renovation district opened in 2001, now a Shanghai fashion landmark; free entry, shops about 10:00 to 02:00, a 5-minute walk from South Huangpi Road station on Metro Lines 1 and 10.

Yu Garden (Yuyuan Garden)

A classical Ming garden in Shanghai first built in 1559 and counted among Jiangnan's four great gardens, covering about 2 hectares; tickets 30-40 yuan, open 8:30-17:30.

Zhujiajiao Ancient Water Town

Zhujiajiao is Shanghai's best-preserved water town, 1,700 years old, with 36 stone bridges and intact Ming-Qing architecture. Free entry (combo ticket CNY 40), 8:30-17:00.

Museums in Shanghai

M50 Art District

A converted 1930s wool-spinning mill on Moganshan Road now hosting 130+ artist studios and galleries; plan 2–3 hours for a real walk-through, not a quick photo stop.

China Art Museum

Modern and contemporary Chinese art in the striking former China Pavilion from Expo 2010. Free entry. Home of the animated digital "Along the River During the Qingming Festival.

China Maritime Museum

Maritime Silk Road, Zheng He's treasure ships, and a full-size Ming Dynasty junk replica inside a sail-shaped building near Dishui Lake. China's national maritime museum. ¥50.

HOW Art Museum

A private contemporary art museum in Pudong with about 3,000 sqm of exhibition space, walkable in 90 minutes if you skip the gift-shop vortex.

Long Museum (Pudong)

Two million RMB and eight years of collecting went into this private art museum in the Pudong riverfront — set aside about 2 hours and arrive before noon.

Long Museum West Bund

Shanghai's largest private art museum, built in a former coal warehouse on the West Bund — 33,000 sqm of modern and contemporary Chinese art including Wang Jianwei.

Power Station of Art

China's first state-run contemporary art museum, set inside a converted 1897 British-built coal-fired power plant on the Huangpu River — admission is free and 2-3 hours covers the main halls.

Rockbund Art Museum

Contemporary art in a striking 1933 Art Deco building on the Bund. ¥50. Rotating exhibitions by Chinese and international artists. The building rivals the art.

Shanghai History Museum

Shanghai's journey from fishing village to 1930s "Paris of the East" — told through artifacts, photographs, and immersive street scenes. Below the Oriental Pearl Tower. Free.

Shanghai Museum

China's best museum for ancient Chinese art — 5 floors of bronzes, jades, ceramics, calligraphy, paintings, coins and Ming-Qing furniture. Free, on People's Square.

Shanghai Natural History Museum

A world-class natural history museum inside Shanghai's famous "Plant-Bulb" building on People's Square — 10 million specimens, evolution galleries.

Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre

Private collection of Mao-era propaganda posters in a basement gallery. ¥20. One of Shanghai's most distinctive small museums. A window into 20th-century Chinese political art.

Shanghai Propaganda Posters

Note: this slug is an alternate reference for the Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre, the ¥20 basement museum of 5,000+ Mao-era posters — see that entry for tickets and hours.

Shanghai Science and Technology Museum

A family-oriented science museum with robot musicians, a walk-through animal world, and Shanghai's best hands-on physics exhibits — budget a full afternoon (4–5 hours). ¥60 adults, ¥30 students.

Shanghai Urban Planning Museum

A 5-floor museum inside Shanghai's municipal government building showing the city's past, present, and future urban planning — the highlight is a 1:500 scale model of Shanghai in 2035. ¥50.

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