Shanghai Tower

Want to see a city from 500 meters up – not through airplane glass, but on solid ground? Shanghai Tower's 118th-floor observatory makes it real!

In my blog, you can get Shanghai Tower tickets, opening hours, how to get there, fun facts and what to see & do.

About Shanghai Tower: Height, Facts & Location

The Shanghai Tower, standing at 632 meters, is China’s tallest building and the world’s 2nd tallest, just behind Dubai’s Burj Khalifa (828m). Designed by American firm Gensler, its spiral shape reduces wind pressure by 24% and its double-layered glass cuts energy costs by 21%.

The Shanghai Tower has 128 floors and is divided into 11 zones. The tower houses offices, a hotel, and the world’s highest observation deck at 546 meters, reached by the world’s fastest elevator at 20.5 m/s (67 ft per second). That equates to an amazing 1,260 meters per minute—faster than a certain Usain Bolt can run!

Shanghai Tower Ticket Prices & Opening Hours

Tickets are usually valid for a specific date and time slot selected during booking.

Shanghai Tower Ticket Prices

Note: Child tickets are typically for ages 3–12, and senior tickets are for ages 60+.

Shanghai Tower Opening Hours

• Weekdays: 8:30 AM – 9:00 PM
• Weekends: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
• Holidays: Extended hours (e.g., 7:30 AM – 10:30 PM)

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What to See Inside Shanghai Tower

The Shanghai Tower stacks up to 128 floors above ground and 5 below, housing everything from dizzying viewpoints to cafes.

Observation Deck (F118 - 546m)

This observation deck holds three world records - highest (546m), fastest elevator (55-second ride from basement to 546m), and tallest glass windows. On clear days, you'll see the Bund's colonial buildings 5km away and watch ships on the Huangpu River. At night, street lights twinkle like ground stars.

Sky Summit (F125/126 - 583.4m)

The soon-to-open pinnacle has the "Eye of Shanghai" - an art-tech installation hosting light shows synchronized to classical music. This level also reveals the tower's 1,000-ton steel damper (weighing 200 elephants) that stabilizes the building during typhoons.

Sky Lobbies (F22/37/52/68)

Nine sky gardens dot the tower, with four major floors:

• 22nd floor: Coffee shops, a gym, and dentist (yes, really!)
• 37th floor: Mini-museum with Ming Dynasty vases
• 52nd floor: Cloud Library bookstore with coffee bar overlooking Pudong
• 68th floor: Michelin-starred Li Xuan restaurant serving elevated Cantonese cuisine

Ground & Underground

The mall (B2-4F): B2's souvenir shops sell miniature tower models beside bubble tea stalls, while 2F's Starbucks Reserve offers sky-high brews.

Don't miss B1's "Skyscraper Gallery" comparing global giants - Burj Khalifa (828m) models stand beside Shanghai's own 632m structure.

A 340m underground artery links the tower to Jinmao's food court and Metro Line 2, its walls displaying rotating art exhibitions. Future tunnels will connect all three Lujiazui towers beneath the financial district.

Where is the Shanghai Tower located & How to Get There

Source from Shanghai Tower Official

Shanghai Tower stands at 501 Yincheng Middle Road, Pudong District, in the center of Lujiazui – Shanghai's financial hub. It's flanked by the Jinmao Tower (420m) and Shanghai World Financial Center (492m), forming the "Three Giants" skyline.

Use the underground passage from Lujiazui Metro Exit 6 – it connects directly to the tower's B2 level, avoiding street crowds.

By Metro

• Line 2/14: Exit 6 at Lujiazui Station (5-minute walk)
• Line 14 (under construction): Direct basement access via upcoming Exit 1

By Bus

• Bus 81/799/993: Get off at "Lujiazzi Huanlu Fenghe Lu" stop (3-minute walk)
• Sightseeing Bus 3: Stops at Oriental Pearl Tower (8-minute walk)

By Car/Taxi

• From the Bund: Cross Yan'an East Road Tunnel (15 mins, ¥25-35 taxi fare)
• Parking: 1,800 spots in B3-B5 (¥20/hour first 3 hrs)

Shanghai Tower Layout Map

Source from Shanghai Tower Official

The Shanghai Tower stacks its functions like a vertical city. Below ground, B1-B2 buzz with metro links (Lines 2 & 14) and tunnels connecting to the Jinmao Tower and future Shanghai World Financial Center passage. These levels hold souvenir shops and a skyscraper exhibit comparing global giants. Deeper down, B3-B5 manage 1,800 parking spots and building systems.

• At street level, Zone 1 (F1-F5) mixes business and leisure: 5th-floor ballrooms host galas under crystal chandeliers, while lower floors have banks, a Tesla showroom, and cafes like Starbucks.
• Rising upward, Zones 2-6 (F8-81) cater to corporate needs—think law firms and tech HQs in soundproof offices with triple-glazed windows. Workers grab lunch at 22nd-floor eateries or dentist appointments without leaving the building.
• Zones 7-8 (F84-115) shift gears: the 84th-105th floors house the J Hotel Shanghai (China's highest 5-star), where rooms start at ¥4,500/night. Above this, private offices occupy floors 106-115 with biometric security.
• Zone 9 (F118-121), packs in the 546m observation deck (118F), event space (119F), and the upcoming 583m "Sky Summit" (125-126F) where engineers will demonstrate how the 1,000-ton pendulum stabilizes the tower during typhoons.

Shanghai Tower Restaurants

High-Up Eats

Li Xuan (68th floor): Michelin-starred Cantonese. Try their black truffle roast duck (¥588/half). Opens 11am-2pm, 5pm-10pm.

J Hotel Dining (101-120F): Exclusive to hotel guests. 120th-floor breakfast buffet with cloud views (¥398/person).

Mid-Level Bites

Cloud Library Café (52nd floor): Coffee (¥35-55) with Pudong views. Open 8am-8pm.

Sky Fitness Lounge (22nd floor): Post-workout noodles (¥48-78) beside the gym.

Ground & Below

Starbucks Reserve (2nd floor): Limited-edition "Tower Mocha" (¥52).

B2 Food Court: Local hits like Yang's Fry Dumplings (¥22/6pcs) and bubble tea.

Underground Avenue: Grab a ¥15 egg tart from Jinmao Tower's bakery via the tunnel.