Shanghai, a bustling metropolis, is renowned for its unique skyline, among which the Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower stand out as the most prominent landmarks. These two buildings not only represent the modernization and prosperity of Shanghai but also carry rich historical and cultural connotations.
Historical Evolution
- Oriental Pearl Tower: The construction of the Oriental Pearl Tower began in 1991 and was officially put into use in 1995. Its construction originated from the proposal of the Shanghai Broadcasting Bureau in 1983 to build a new – type TV tower with foreign funds. After years of site – selection, demonstration, and scheme design, the “Oriental Pearl” scheme designed by the East China Architectural Design Institute was finally selected. The tower is located on the bank of the Huangpu River in Pudong New Area, at the tip of Lujiazui, with a total height of 468 meters. When it was completed, it was the tallest tower in Asia, and it is also the world’s first super – high – altitude multi – functional integrated building, which is of great significance in the history of Shanghai’s urban construction.
- Shanghai Tower: The planning of Shanghai Tower can be traced back to the “Shanghai Lujiazui Central Area Planning and Design Scheme” issued by the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government in 1993, which planned to build three super – high – rise landmark buildings to form a “tripod” trend. The construction of Shanghai Tower started in November 2008 and was put into trial operation in January 2017. Located at No. 501 Yincheng Middle Road, Lujiazui Financial and Trade Zone, it has a total height of 632 meters, making it the tallest building in China and the second – tallest building in the world.
Charming Scenery
- Oriental Pearl Tower: The Oriental Pearl Tower is famous for its unique “three – sphere” shape. There are multiple observation decks at different heights. The 263 – meter main observation deck has a 360 – degree transparent glass wall, from which you can overlook the urban scenery of Puxi and Pudong. The 259 – meter – high glass – bottomed walkway brings a thrilling experience. The 350 – meter – high space capsule has a broader view. At night, the lights of the Oriental Pearl Tower are on, and the 11 spheres of different sizes are like pearls falling on a jade plate, shining brightly, forming a beautiful night – view with the buildings on the opposite Bund.
- Shanghai Tower: The Shanghai Tower has a spiral – rising appearance, which is like a giant dragon soaring into the sky. The “Shanghai Tower Observation Deck” on the 118th and 119th floors is the highest outdoor observation platform in Shanghai, with a height of 546 – 552 meters. Here, you can have a bird’s – eye view of the whole city, and on a clear day, you can even see Hangzhou Bay. The 125th and 126th floors are equipped with a damper science – popularization area and the Tian Shi 632 Art Space. The art space holds light and shadow technology interactive shows, bringing a immersive multi – dimensional art experience.
Stories behind the Buildings
- Oriental Pearl Tower: The design inspiration of the Oriental Pearl Tower comes from Bai Juyi’s poem “Pipa Xing”, “Large and small pearls fall on a jade plate”, which combines classical poetry with modern architecture. The 425 foundation piles of the tower go 12 meters deep into the ground, and the three steel – structure spheres can resist a magnitude – 7 earthquake and a category – 12 typhoon. There was an air – conditioned guest room on the 215 – meter – high sphere, which was one of the highest – altitude hotel guest rooms in the world, and many global celebrities and dignitaries had lived in it. In addition, the Shanghai Urban Historical Development Exhibition Hall at the bottom of the tower, with a collection of 100,000 cultural relics, restores the century – old changes of Shanghai, which is a “time – tunnel” to understand the history of Shanghai.
- Shanghai Tower: Shanghai Tower has broken through many world – class problems such as soft soil foundation construction and high – altitude wind resistance, and has assembled dozens of independently developed core construction technologies. The 1000 – ton – class tuned mass damper installed on the 125th floor can offset the shaking amplitude of the building. The building is also the world’s first super – high – rise building with LEED – CS platinum – level certification, and its double – layer curtain wall structure and vertical sky garden can effectively save energy. As the core landmark of the Lujiazui skyline, Shanghai Tower carries the urban positioning of Shanghai as an international financial center and is an important window to show China’s infrastructure level and urban development charm.
The Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower are the treasures of Shanghai, attracting countless tourists with their unique charm. Whether you are interested in history, scenery, or architecture, these two landmarks will bring you an unforgettable experience.
