Why go
Unlike the neighboring slab and spiral towers, this broadcasting landmark turns a set of rounded forms into the main attraction. Its position beside the Huangpu helps you read the relationship between Lujiazui and the Bund. The sightseeing experience shares the building with dining, shopping and cultural entertainment.
What to look for
- Large and small spheres arranged along a 468-meter broadcasting tower
- Three huge columns supporting the sphere-stacked structure
- The Huangpu and the Bund facing the Lujiazui tower cluster
The full story
The Oriental Pearl opened in 1995 during the early years of Pudong’s rapid development. Its design uses eleven spheres of different sizes, linked by columns, rather than the continuous wall of a conventional skyscraper. The two largest spheres dominate the outline, while a smaller upper sphere and the antenna extend the composition. Three enormous supports anchor the building at ground level. The design recalls the poetic image of large and small pearls falling onto a jade plate, giving the engineering forms a cultural association. That idea helps explain the tower’s name and why its silhouette differs so clearly from the other Lujiazui landmarks. Broadcasting equipment, sightseeing spaces and other visitor functions share the structure. It became both a working television tower and a symbol of the new district, joining technical infrastructure with a deliberately memorable shape.
Useful to know
- Check which sightseeing levels your chosen ticket includes.
- Allow time for the tower experience rather than adding several tower interiors in one day.
- Compare its full silhouette from the Bund as well as from nearby streets.
Your next visit
Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.
Outdoor visit · 30–45 min
World planning estimate; admission, opening, visit duration and access need checking.