Shanghai Tower is a super-tall landmark skyscraper, towering above the nearby Shanghai World Financial Center. Located in the heart of Shanghai’s Lujiazui Financial and Trade Zone, the building stands 119 stories above ground, reaching a total height of approximately 632 meters.
Like many modern high-rise skyscrapers, Shanghai Tower is more than just an office building; it’s a commercial hub. The tower is divided into nine major zones, each featuring a sky lobby situated between the inner and outer glass façades. The first zone is dedicated to retail, zones 2 to 6 are office spaces, and zones 7 to 9 house hotels and observation decks. Each sky lobby level also hosts its own retail shops and restaurants.
Travel Information about Shanghai Tower
Tickets and Opening Hours
Tickets: Access to the 118th and 119th floors, plus the B1 Exhibition Hall, costs 180 RMB.
Opening Hours: 08:30~22:00 (Last ticket collection at 21:30).
Getting There
Location: Lujiazui, Yincheng Middle Road, Pudong New Area.
Transportation: Take Metro Line 2 to Lujiazui Station, and the tower is within walking distance.
Scenic Rating
Thrill ★★★★★
Romance ★★★★★
Beauty ★★★★
Leisure ★★★★
Unique Features ★★★
Cultural Experience ★★
Highlights of Shanghai Tower
Observation Areas
Shanghai Tower offers a comprehensive sightseeing route composed of four main areas: the “Shanghai Peak Exhibition Hall” on B1, the “Shanghai Peak Observation Deck” on the 118th floor, the damper display area on the 125th floor, and the world’s highest space for cultural and artistic experiences on the 126th floor.
Shanghai Peak Exhibition Hall: Located on B1, this exhibition area features seven themed zones such as “Shanghai Tower” and “Growing Skyline.” Through multimedia interactions involving sound, light, and technology, visitors are immersed in the wonders of skyscraper cities around the world.
Shanghai Peak Observation Deck: Situated on the 118th floor, this observation deck is reached via the world’s fastest elevators, taking you up to a height of 546 meters. From here, you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of Shanghai’s cityscape, identify numerous iconic buildings, marvel at the ever-changing natural scenery, and experience the unique sensation of being at the “Peak of Shanghai.”
Damper Display Area: Located on the 125th floor, this high-tech interactive exhibit unveils the mysteries of the 1,000-ton damper system that stabilizes the tower. Visitors can explore the technology that helps control the building’s movement.
World’s Highest Cultural and Artistic Space: On the 126th floor, this space offers the chance to listen to four-dimensional musical works by world-class masters and enjoy a cutting-edge multimedia audio-visual experience.
Sky Lobby
Shanghai Tower’s Sky Lobby offers public activity and communication spaces with unique features on different floors:
37th Floor: This level houses the Shanghai Guanfu Museum and the world’s highest indoor Chinese garden, known as the Half-Mu Garden. The garden integrates traditional elements into a modern space, reflecting the beauty of classical Chinese landscaping.
52nd and 68th Floors: These floors host a bookstore and high-end Michelin dining options, providing a refined experience for visitors.
The Western-style Olive Plaza on the 52nd floor, adorned with stone columns, totems, and symbolic characters, represents eight lost civilizations from human history. It serves as a reminder to cherish and preserve our existing cultural heritage.
The Shanghai Guanfu Museum features permanent exhibits including the Porcelain Hall, East-West Hall, Gold Hall, Sculpture Hall, and a temporary exhibition hall. Built on the foundation of China’s rich cultural heritage, the museum emphasizes communication between humanities and history, highlighting the appeal of traditional culture.
Shanghai Essence and Shanghai Gifts
Shanghai Essence is located in the lower floors of the Shanghai Tower, spanning from B2 to the 4th floor of the podium. It exemplifies the concept of a vertical city within Shanghai Tower. This area includes a variety of offerings such as brand retail, automotive displays, business and leisure dining, future banking, coffee shops, cultural and creative products, and merchandise. It provides a one-stop solution for various business and lifestyle needs.
Shanghai Gifts stores are located within the observation areas on the 118th floor and B2 level of Shanghai Tower. Emphasizing distinctive original designs, these stores offer over a thousand products, many featuring the unique Shanghai Tower mark. The collection includes works by numerous artists and illustrators, surpassing typical tourist souvenirs with a focus on creative and high-quality designs.
Public Arcade
The “Public Arcade” of Shanghai Tower extends approximately 340 meters with a total area of about 5,500 square meters. It connects Shanghai Tower with Jin Mao Tower, the IFC Mall, and the Line 2 subway, creating an underground “root connection” among the skyscrapers of the Lujiazui core area, often referred to as the “Golden Triangle.”
This Public Arcade serves as a “city thoroughfare,” providing transportation convenience, and features a futuristic design with seamless curves, dynamic and varied lighting effects, and a trendy atmosphere. Using special materials, the design incorporates elements of the phoenix tree, creating a shadow play effect on the ceiling that evokes a feeling of being in a forest. The arcade’s edge design is inspired by cave formations, adding a sense of history and nature. The floor design of the arcade reflects the flowing rhythm of the Huangpu River, creating a continuous and dynamic sensation.