Oriental Pearl Tower (Dongfang Mingzhu), Shanghai

...with a friend, and the Oriental Pearl Tower is certainly an attraction I am glad I didn't miss. The Oriental Pearl Tower is a TV tower which is a major advertising point for the skyscraper filled city, it has a unique design, is one of the world’s tallest towers and is certainly an alluring jewel against the often foggy backgrounds.

The oriental Pearl Tower does not possess a typical plain TV tower look. Instead it has a beautifully ...
...or at night when it is lit by a fascinating variety of colours, it stands out from the other structures of the Pudong district.

Upon arriving at the tower, approaching the gates is certainly a difficult experience because of all the tourists (including yourself) with their heads in the air, admiring the picturesque tower above them. This is obviously a great photo opportunity, but there are better ones yet to come! For after you have ... more

August 2006, I was lucky enough to be in Shanghai with a friend, and the Oriental Pearl Tower is certainly an attraction I am glad I didn't miss. The Oriental Pearl Tower is a TV tower which is a major advertising point for the skyscraper filled city, it has a unique design, is one of the world’s tallest towers and is certainly an alluring jewel against the often foggy backgrounds.

The oriental Pearl Tower does not possess a typical plain TV tower look. Instead it has a beautifully designed and lit exterior, whether you observe it in daylight or at night when it is lit by a fascinating variety of colours, it stands out from the other structures of the Pudong district.

Upon arriving at the tower, approaching the gates is certainly a difficult experience because of all the tourists (including yourself) with their heads in the air, admiring the picturesque tower above them. This is obviously a great photo opportunity, but there are better ones yet to come! For after you have climbed the stairs to the entrance of the tower, you will most likely need to wait in a rather long queue, and be ready for the packed-like-sardines feeling (assuming its busy) as you board the elevator to fly up a few hundred meters to the observation deck - if your ears have enough freedom to hear the guide, they will tell you how high up you are and try their best not to frighten you too much before you step out of the elevator and make your way around the 863ft high observation deck!

Here is a great opportunity to take some photographs across Shanghai, in particular you have a great view of the river, the design of the observation deck is very useful because the glass curves and this gives a great viewing angle which means you can take photographs of things below you too.

If you aim to go to the tower before the sun goes down, you will be able to catch some day and night shots here because there is a very quick sunset in August which is great because Shanghai looks truly excellent at night.

Another great thing to try out is having a meal in the rotating restaurant. Granted it rotates very slowly, but nonetheless it rotates. The food is good as is the service.

When you feel its time to leave, make your way to the final elevator to be safely grounded again, but be sure to get some kind of souvenir from the shops on the bottom floor before walking outside, and turning to see the tower before continuing back down the steps and leaving the site.

In the evenings when it is dark, spectacular disco-style lights flash around the tower, it truly is impressive. There is also the chance that there will be live music playing outside on the steps, which as well as entertaining you, will attract huge crowds, so make sure you know where your going because it is easy to get lost here, particularly if you are in a group with others.

For 50RMB (£3.25) this is certainly something worth doing, it is quickly clear why three million people visit it every year, its hard to believe is was completed in 1995. 

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