Oriental Pearl Tower

Shanghai, China

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The Oriental Pearl Tower is Shanghai’s most iconic architectural gem—part sci-fi sculpture, part cultural symbol, and 100% unforgettable. Rising 468 meters (1,535 feet) above the Pudong skyline, this futuristic TV and radio tower was completed in 1994 and held the title of China’s tallest structure until 2007.

Its design, inspired by a Tang dynasty poem about “pearls falling onto a jade plate,” features 11 spheres of varying sizes strung vertically between three columns. The result? A dazzling silhouette that glows pink and purple at night, like a lantern-lit dream. Inside, it’s a vertical playground:

• Observation decks at 263m and 351m offer sweeping views of the Bund and Huangpu River. One deck even has a glass floor for thrill-seekers.
• A revolving restaurant at 267m lets you dine while the city slowly spins beneath you.
• The Shanghai History Museum in the base recreates old Shanghai streets and traditions.
• There’s even a VR roller coaster and a Space Hotel tucked between the spheres.