Located at the top of the luxurious Oriental Pearl Tower, the Oriental Pearl Tower Restaurant, or Oriental Pearl Revolving Restaurant, offers diners panoramic views of the city, 267 meters above beautiful Shanghai. This iconic venue is no mere restaurant. The tower is a destination as well for locals and travelers alike.
Delve into the detail below to discover why the Oriental Pearl Tower and its revolving restaurant should be on your Shanghai highlights list.
Oriental Pearl Tower – It’s a towering achievement
The Oriental Pearl Radio and TV Tower is a multi-purpose facility with sightseeing, restaurants, shopping, entertainment, the Shanghai History Museum, a cruise dock, and events center.
At 468 meter high, it stood as the tallest structure in China from 1994–2007, when it was surpassed by the Shanghai World Financial Center. Standing on the bank of the Huangpu River, it is central to Lujiazui and opposite The Bund, which is renowned for its grand architectural buildings with its variety of styles.
The Oriental Pearl Tower remains one of the most symbolic venues and tourism destinations in Shanghai. Classified as an ‘AAAAA’ scenic area by the China National Tourism Administration, it’s proclaimed The Oriental Pearl Tower Restaurant has one of the 10 best views in Shanghai.
The tower features 11 spheres, both big and small. The two largest spheres, along the length of the tower, are visible from great distances, as the tower is brightly illuminated in various LED sequences at night. The design and symbolism of the tower are said to be based on a verse of the Tang Dynasty poem, Pipa Song by Bai Juyi about the wonderful sprinkling sound of a Pipa instrument, like pearls, big and small falling on a jade plate.
‘AAAAA’ scenic views
Including the Oriental Pearl Revolving Restaurant, the tower has 15 Observation levels. The highest of these, known as the Space Module, is an awe-inspiring 350 meters high. Boasting an outdoor observation platform, not for the faint of heart, sightseers are protected from falling by a 50mm thick, transparent glass floor looking straight down onto the busy Shanghai streets below!
The lower sightseeing level is a still modest 263 meters above ground and the Space City floor rests at 90 meters. The Oriental Pearl Tower has a 20-room hotel, called the Space Hotel, between the two large spheres. There are also exhibition centers and a small shopping complex.
A basement museum and the history of Shanghai
The exhibitions of The Shanghai History Museum, in the basement of the tower, are truly incredible. The museum is a winding maze, full of great information about the development of Shanghai from its very beginning. Unsurprisingly, their attention to detail is impressive, giving great insights into the early lives of the rich and poor Chinese of Shanghai, and their ever-changing city. There are few better ways to understand Shanghai and its history than a visit to the Shanghai History Museum.
The Oriental Pearl Revolving Restaurant
Soaring at 267 meters above Shanghai’s bustling streets, this tower top revolving restaurant is an experience unlike any other, with its breathtaking views of the city in full vision beneath and all around you.
Traditional Chinese cuisine meets western-style cooking in epic fashion at the buffet. The food is delicious, however, if you don’t book your table in advance you’ll be watching the sights and the people eating! Our local guides help you through these processes to avoid missing out on any must-see sights, like the Oriental Pearl Tower and Revolving Restaurant.
When the sun goes down and the stars dot the vastness above. One of two breathtaking marvels can be seen. One is the night sky, scattered with countless stars, an unforgettable sight! The other is the mesmerizing illumination of the city-scape below and all around you.
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