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)

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.

Take the underground passage from Lujiazui Metro Station 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 the upcoming Exit 1

By Bus

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

By Car/Taxi

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

Shanghai Tower Layout Map

Source from Shanghai Tower Official

The Shanghai Tower is structured like a vertical city. Below ground, B1-B2 are busy with metro links (Lines 2 & 14) and tunnels to the Jinmao Tower. Plus a future passage to the Shanghai World Financial Center. These levels have 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 up, Zones 2-6 (F8-81) cater to corporate needs. Law firms and tech headquarters in soundproof offices with triple-glazed windows. Workers can grab lunch at 22nd-floor eateries or visit the dentist without leaving the building.
• Zones 7-8 (F84-115) shift focus: Floors 84-105 house the J Hotel Shanghai (China’s highest 5-star hotel). Above that, private offices occupy floors 106-115 with biometric security.
• Zone 9 (F118-121) includes the 546m observation deck (118th floor), event space (119th floor), and the upcoming 583m “Sky Summit” (125-126th floors). Engineers will demonstrate how the 1,000-ton pendulum stabilizes the tower during typhoons.

Shanghai Tower Restaurants

High-Up Eats

• Li Xuan (68th floor): A Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant. Try their black truffle roast duck (¥588 for half). Open 11am-2pm, 5pm-10pm.
• J Hotel Dining (101-120F): Exclusive to hotel guests. The 120th-floor breakfast buffet offers cloud views (¥398 per person).

Mid-Level Bites

• Cloud Library Café (52nd floor): Coffee (¥35-55) with views of Pudong. Open 8am-8pm.
• Sky Fitness Lounge (22nd floor): Post-workout noodles (¥48-78) next to the gym.

Ground & Below

• Starbucks Reserve (2nd floor): Offers the limited-edition “Tower Mocha” (¥52).
• B2 Food Court: Local favorites like Yang’s Fry Dumplings (¥22 for 6) and bubble tea.
• Underground Avenue: Pick up a ¥15 egg tart from Jinmao Tower’s bakery via the tunnel.

Shanghai Restaurant Recommendation

TASTE OF CHINA Immersive Dining

Located at Shanghai’s historic The Bund · City Hall Plaza, this multi-sensory dining experience blends cutting-edge technology with Chinese culinary tradition. Through dynamic digital art, landscapes like the Yellow River and Li River come alive around—and even on—your plate.

Guided by the panda chef “Cheng BaoBao,” you’ll journey through seven culinary keys exploring China’s rich history and diverse culture. Each dish tells a story, merging flavor, art, and technology.

More than a meal—it’s an immersive encounter. Taste the essence of China, experience its spirit, and leave forever captivated.

TASTE OF CHINA - Opening Hours

Operating Hours: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Two Daily Seatings:

• Lunch Banquet: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
• Dinner Banquet: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM

(Costume and styling experience is recommended 2 hours prior to seating)

TASTE OF CHINA - Address

No.LG1-03, Zone E, 215 Middle Jiangxi Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai

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