Oriental Pearl TV Tower

About

Once the tallest structure in China, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower remains a definitive symbol of Shanghai with its futuristic 'eleven pearls' design. The tower houses multiple observation levels, a revolving restaurant, and a highly-rated Shanghai History Museum in its basement. The most thrilling feature is the transparent glass-bottom skywalk at 259 meters, which provides a dizzying vertical view of the city streets below. It is a cultural landmark that represents Shanghai's 1990s economic boom. Pro tip: The basement history museum is often overlooked but provides an excellent immersive journey through old Shanghai. Purchase a combo ticket online to save time, and try to visit during the evening for the best light show visuals across the Huangpu River.

Highlights

• Iconic futuristic architecture
• Glass-bottomed observation deck
• Revolving buffet restaurant
• Municipal History Museum inside

Amenities

Why go

• Visit Oriental Pearl TV Tower to experience iconic futuristic architecture.
• Spend time on glass-bottomed observation deck rather than treating it as a quick photo stop.
• The experience is rounded out by revolving buffet restaurant.

Know before you go

• Allow about 120m on site, excluding transfers and queues.
• Confirm current opening hours, ticket rules, temporary closures, and entry restrictions before departure.
• Carry the local-language name and address for navigation, taxi, or entrance checks.

Tips

• Plan this stop after dark and confirm the final return transport in advance.
• Group the stop with nearby places to reduce backtracking and keep a realistic transfer buffer.
• Carry water, weather protection, and the local-language place name when conditions require them.