Facts and Tips about Oriental Pearl Radio and Television Tower

The Oriental Pearl was commissioned in the year 1991 and completed in 1994. It is the 6^th tallest tower in the world and the 2^nd tallest television tower in China. The building is an amalgamation of ancient construction concepts fused with modern facilities, amenities, and recreational activities.

Take a look at why the Oriental Pearl Radio and Television Tower is such a spectacular tourist spot and what you can do while you are there.

The unique and exclusive architectural marvel of the Oriental Pearl is what sets it apart from most tourist places. 11 steel spheres and 3 columns that seem to tower from green grass to blue skies make for a stunning view. The whole structure stands on gorgeous green lands that give it the effect of shining pearls resting on a jade platter. The base of the tower is created by three slanting stanchions that are 7 meters wide and slanted. The spheres of this modern splendor are perfectly strung together, vertically, by 9 meter wide columns. The six main parts of the Oriental Pearl are the 3 main columns and the 3 gigantic pearls.

1.The 1^st pearl with a 50-meter diameter is known as the bottom ball, and it is 90 meters above the ground

2.The Middle pearl is known as the upper ball, with a 45-meter diameter, and it stands 259 meters above the ground.

3.The topmost pearl is known as the‘Space Capsule,’and this capsule is a whopping 350 meters above ground level. This sphere is 14 meters in diameter.

4.The antenna spire at the top broadcasts television and radio programs. This extends the construction by about 118 meters or 387 feet bringing the total height of the tower to 468 meters or 1535 feet.

There are 5 smaller spheres, a basement, and square levels, all of which are connected by a wholly transparent lift that offers a panoramic view of Shanghai city. The structure of the Oriental Pearl mirrors a citing from a Poem (Pip Song by Bai Juyi) of the Tang Dynasty. It speaks of the pipa instrument making sprinkling sounds of large and small pearls falling on a jade plate.

Your journey will start with the double-decker elevator that travels 7 meters per second. The attendant in the elevator shares an introduction of the TV tower in Chinese and English as you make your upward climb. The tower houses a melange of activities with places of interest, recreational activities, and commercial interest, all being housed in the different spheres and columns.

This museum is placed in the pedestal of the tower. It features the developmental history of Shanghai. An audio-visual presentation, along with bold displays of relics, documents, and pictures, let tourist learn much more about Shanghai’s rich history. The Municipal History museum has a 6-part show which speaks about the old municipal constructions, street scenes, leased territory, urban economy, modern culture of the city, and political changes in Shanghai. Every aspect of Shanghai city life is covered profoundly during the presentation.

The lowest sphere has a state-of-the-art space city with a fantabulous sightseeing hall. This corridor sits 259 meters above the ground and offers a 360-degree view of Shanghai through its glass-bottomed floor. This viewing corridor offers the widest vision of the city through its 150 meters walk around.

The tower has exactly fifteen observatory levels of which the highest is known as the Space Module and stands at 351 meters or 1148 ft. The lower levels stand at 263 meters or 863 ft and are the Sightseeing Floor, and the lowest one is called space city at 90 meters or 295 ft. At the 267 meter level (876 ft) there is a revolving restaurant with a remarkable view. The project also contains exhibition facilities and a small shopping center.

The space capsule has been engineered to look like a space shuttle. There is a person in an astronauts costume to welcome guests into space. Photos and videos in the capsule educate tourists about outer space as well as about this portion of the tower. There is a 20 room hotel known as the Space Hotel, which is in between the two larger spheres.

Diners at the Revolving restaurant get a stupendous view of the entire city of Shanghai while enjoying a cozy lunch or dinner. This restaurant is the 2^nd highest revolving restaurant in all of Asia. It covers a massive space of 1500square meters and can seat 350 guests at a given time slot. The restaurant is scheduled to revolve once every two hours through the day. The view at night when the restaurant is revolving is particularly fantastic and is worth making a reservation for.

Business hours for the restaurants' buffet are 11 am to 2 pm for lunch and 5 pm to 9 pm for dinner. It is advisable to pick a clear day so that you have an unobstructed view of the city as you dine. Reservations to the restaurant can be made through your hotel's staff or by calling their listed telephone lines.

The fun attractions at the fantasy world can keep anybody engaged. Nobody gets bored in the fantasy world. It has laser theatre, Disney theatre, bliss square, 3-D movies, hot air ballooning, a journey through a forest, and a trip to the South Pole. The Game city has a roller coaster which is the highest indoor roller coaster. It breaks all traditional limitations of a roller coaster in every aspect with spectacular sights and sensations. It is the epitome of high-altitude escapades and is true to its slogan- ‘Scream together to fly together and pass through Lujiazui’. The game city is placed around the 90 to 98 meter level of the TV tower.

Here are some places from where you can get a view of the tower in its entirety:

You have three cruises that can be taken down the Huangpu River. Each tour lasts about 45 minutes. There are three cruises you can take to travel. The tour time is 45 minutes. The cruise starts every hour from 10 am to 12 noon, 2 pm to 4 pm and then at 7 pm and 8 pm. During peak seasons there are also cruises available at 5 pm and 9 pm.

The Bund is located on the other side of the Huangpu River. It is one of the most suitable places to view the Oriental Tower from. There are several old architectural gems from different countries in varied and eclectic styles. Shanghai's developmental changes can be seen as you view these old buildings in comparison to the modern Oriental Pearl Tower.

The Pudong park is close to the Oriental Tower. The Oriental Pearl Tower is visible very clearly from here, and it is a beautiful, quite, and comfortable place from which to get good pictures of the tower. Relaxing on a park bench with a family is one of the best ways to view the Oriental Pearl tower in all its glory. It is also a great way to enjoy your weekends.

There are some wonderful choices for food in and around the TV Tower. Here is a list of places that you can eat at:

Come and enjoy the delectable fare at the revolving restaurant. The night view with beautiful LED lights, will take your breath away as you feast your senses to great food and gorgeous views. The city, with its neon display boards, and flashy skyline will not disappoint you as you take in the sights of the Huangpu River. The epicurean delights that are served at this restaurant are sure to titillate your taste buds, leaving you wanting for more food even as your seams are busting at the hips. Details about the restaurant:

The Coca-Cola minipark is an eclectic and fun collection of Coca-Cola's collectibles over eras of their existence. You will find the Coca-Cola manned motorcycles, coke bottles, and cans that have changed over the decades, and advertisements from the past. Step in and enjoy Coca-Cola universe. The polar bear is seated at the doorstep welcomes all who enter. Tourists can take fun pictures in the Coca-Cola universe while enjoying their dining experience.

The Coca-Cola Happiness Restaurant is an interactive themed restaurant with interactive experience environments, flash videos, and gaming, to give consumers an awesome experience along with food.

The Flower Bar is located beside the 2^nd door of the Pearl, and it is s a calm and beautiful garden in the busy Lujiazui business district. It feels like heaven for busy workers and tourists to take a short break from their hectic schedule and grab a bite to eat.

The chocolate bar is located at the exit to the Oriental Pearl and is a very peaceful place to take a break at. There are small round tables and chairs in a small room, and the fragrance of chocolate wafts out the door, drawing you in as you try to pass by. You could also pick up some red wine and have wine and chocolates at the tower to enhance your experience.

No.8 Old Shanghai Restaurant is placed near the 8th entrance to the Oriental Pearl. It seems almost hidden in Pudong park. It gives one the feeling of being in old Shanghai even as they are seated in the bustling business district.

This is a dreamy ice cream shop that serves the most exotic and varied range of ice creams from around 100 countries worldwide. There are 14 known varieties of chocolate ice creams and 18 varieties of yogurt ice creams. You can choose from 18 kinds of fruit ice creams or 18 flavors of pastry ice creams. It is believed that there is alien flavored ice cream too if you have the stomach for it.

This Starbucks is a sight for sore eyes as it is a transparent glass house seated the Oriental Pearl square. The little glasshouse is warm and sunny during the day while glittering like the stars at night. The fresh coffee beans, the warm cakes, and the aroma of the food welcome you while the uniquely designed back garden makes you want to sit in and sip your coffee a little while longer.

Shopping and buying collectibles are an integral part of all adventures, and you can get your shopping fix at these places:

Souvenirs and collectibles are the highlights of every tourist's trip. Ranging from refrigerator magnets, to desk stands and showcase memorabilia, these items are a must-buy for any visitor and the tower has stores that sell old Shanghai and Modern Shanghai elements along with models of the Oriental Pearl.

Located at the Oriental Pearl 'Zero Meter Hall' is an "Old Shanghai-style Street". This is an excellent place to find Shanghai souvenirs.

The "Pearl Life Aesthetics Museum" is placed at Gate 8 of Shanghai Oriental Pearl close to the Financial City. It covers 450 square meters are with two open-air gardens at the front and back. The interior design of the aesthetics hall was completed by the Oriental Pearl Tower studio and the MIC Studio. Apart from sharing beautiful and comfortable interior designs, the Aesthetics Museum also introduces a Library with books and serves tea, coffee, and desserts to its patrons.

The only Shuter Life Shop in Shanghai is at Oriental Pearl Zero Meter Hall. You can shop for inexpensive yet good quality stuff from here.

The tower hosts a 'Climb the tower for New Year' every year from 1996. Apart from this, one can take part in Earth Hour, Women's day Celebrations, Charity for the Autistic, and other charitable events that are organized throughout the year. A photography-related event hosts an exhibition of wildlife photos every once in a while.

Located at 1 Century Ave, Lu Jia Zui, Pudong Xinqu, Shanghai Shi, China, The tower is accessible from Shanghai Railway Station, Hongqiao Railway Station, Hongqiao Airport and Pudong International Airport via the metro line. Buses on the Lujiazui Finance Trade Zone route and tourist lines will get you there too. The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel also gets to the tower after crossing the Huangpu River river. You can get off at the Pudong side.

Make enough space in your itinerary to see the night view of the Oriental Pearl Radio and TV Tower. It is spectacular, and is something that should not be missed. It is also highly recommended to visit during summers when the days are sunny and the night skies are clear. At nightfall, the tower lights up, and you get to see a city transform before your eyes. It is considered the perfect time to stand at the Pearl TV Tower observatory and view the river close by.

A package tour at the Oriental Pearl Tower includes the 263m sightseeing floor, 259m skywalk, the 78m multimedia show, the museum, and the Huangpu River cruise. Separate tours are available for the Museum alone. Tickets are also available to see each of these 14 floors individually. It costs around $48 per ticket for an adult. You can opt for only the sightseeing floor or the Multimedia show floor, or you can choose to only visit the space capsule on your ticket. The ticket counter is open from 8 am and can also be availed on the website online.

The Oriental Pearl Tower is an architectural marvel of immaculate beauty and aesthetics. It is one of those tourist destinations that should be ticked off every travellers bucket list due to its sheer height, engineering beauty, and versatile tourist facilities. It is a place that offers gorgeous views, delectable food, interesting shopping options, and adventurous, thrilling indoor activities. This is the kind of marvel that houses something of interest for every age group, and it is a family entertainer of epic proportions. What is more, you can visit the Bund, and the Huangpu river too, which are very close by from the Oriental Pearl Tower.