Oriental Pearl Tower

Oriental Pearl Tower 东方明珠塔
No. 2, Lane 504, Lujiazui Road, Pudong, Shanghai, China
Height
Spire/ antenna	468m/ 1,535.5ft
Height of Primary Observatory	90m/ 678ft
Height of Secondary Observatory	263m/ 863ft
Height of Highest Observatory	342m/ 1,122ft
Height of Restaurant	267m/ 876ft
Tower data
Total weight of Tower	120,000 metric tonnes (132276 tons)
Gross ground floor area of building	54,000m² (581 251 ft²)
Net usable area of building	20,000m² (215 278 ft²)
Maximum design wind speed	600 km/h (370 mph)
Antenna data
Total length of antenna	118m/387ft
Weight of antenna	450 metric tonnes (496 tons)
Number of broadcasting facilities	19
Construction
Start	1991
End	1995
Cost	US$100 million
Date of Inauguration	1 May 1995
Architecture
Style	Postmodern
Materials	Concrete, steel
Companies
Architect	Shanghai Modern Architectural Design Co. Ltd.
Developer	Shanghai Oriental Group Co. Ltd.

The Oriental Pearl Tower (Chinese: 东方明珠塔; Pinyin: Dōngfāng Míngzhūtǎ , Offical Name: 东方明珠电视塔) is a TV tower in Shanghai, China. The Oriental Pearl Tower is located at the tip of Lujiazui in the Pudong district, by the side of Huangpu River, opposite The Bund of Shanghai.

It was designed by Jia Huan Cheng of the Shanghai Modern Architectural Design Co. Ltd. Construction began in 1991 and the tower was completed in 1995. At 468 m (1,535 feet) high, it is the tallest tower in Asia, and the third tallest tower in the world. The Oriental Pearl Tower belongs to the World Federation of Great Towers.

The tower has approximate coordinates 31°14'30 N and 121°29'42 E.

The Spheres in the tower

The tower features 11 spheres, big and small. The two biggest spheres, along the length of the tower, have diameters of 50 m (164 ft) for the lower and 45 m (148 ft) for the upper. They are linked by three columns, each 9 m (30 ft) in diameter. The highest sphere is 14 m (46 ft) in diameter.

The entire building is supported by three enormous and surprisingly strong columns that start underground.

Observation levels

The revolving restaurant inside the 2nd-highest sphere

The tower has three observatory levels. The highest (known as the Space Module) is at 350 m (1148 ft). The lower levels are at 263 m (863 ft) (Sightseeing Floor) and at 90 m (295 ft) (Space City). There is a revolving restaurant at the 267 m (876 ft) level. The project also contains exhibition facilities, restaurants and a shopping mall. There is also a 20 room hotel called the Space Hotel between the two large spheres.

Antenna spire

An antenna broadcasting TV and radio programs extends the construction by another 118 m (387 ft).

Chinese symbolism in the design

The design of the building is based on a verse of the Tang Dynasty poem Pipa Song instrument, like by Bai Juyi about the wonderful sprinkling sound of a pipapearls, big and small falling on a jade plate (大珠小珠落玉盘/大珠小珠落玉盤/dà zhū xiǎo zhū luò yù pán). The Oriental Pearl Tower consists of big and small balls, 11 in total. It is as if they are pearls falling down from the sky above on a jade plate, represented by the Huangpu river.

Seen from afar, the Yangpu bridge (杨浦大桥 Yángpǔ dàqiáo) and the Nanpu bridge (南浦大桥 Nánpǔ dàqiáo) seem like two Chinese dragons frolicking with the pearls of the Oriental Pearl tower.

Tourist facts

The Pearl Tower attracts three million visitors each year.

Panoramic view of Oriental Pearl Tower

Oriental Pearl Tower

Night view

Oriental Pearl at night

Oriental Pearl and night view of Pudong

The Oriental Pearl at night (the second tallest building is the Jin Mao Tower)

Inside the Pearl

Viewpoint (263 meters)

Rotating Restaurant (267 meters )