Shanghai World Financial Center
Shanghai, China
Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai
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Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- ¥120; Skywalk from ¥288
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours
- Daily 8:30–21:30, last entry 21:00
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 1 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Viewing level
- Indoor deck on the 88th floor, with a view down into the hotel atrium
- Adult ticket
- ¥120 at the desk; about ¥80–90 through booking platforms
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Concessions
- Children 1–1.3 m, students and over-70s pay less; under 1 m or aged 3 and under free
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Skywalk
- From ¥288 including the deck; ages 10–60, height 1.4–2 m, book a day ahead
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - ID
- Passport — tickets are name-linked
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Metro
- Lines 2 and 14, Lujiazui station, Exit 6, about 5 min on foot
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Address
- 88 Century Avenue, Lujiazui, Pudong (世纪大道88号)
Key facts
420.5 mheight to the tip of the spire, 88 floors
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English WikipediaTravel China Guide88th floorindoor deck holding 1,000 people, reached by lift in about 45 seconds
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English WikipediaTravel China Guidechinatravel.com≈ 340 mthe open-air Skywalk: 60 m long, 1.2 m wide, no handrails
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designboom and BDC Network, 2016chinatravel.com1994–1999construction; formally dedicated on 28 August 1998
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English and Russian WikipediaTravel China GuideAdrian Smith, SOMarchitect, of Chicago firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
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English WikipediaTravel China GuideThe number 8drives the proportions: 88 floors, 16 tiers, each 1/8 shorter than the base
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English and Russian Wikipedia53–87Grand Hyatt floors; the atrium rises from floor 56 to 87
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English WikipediaTravel China Guide1998–2007Shanghai's tallest building, until the SWFC next door
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English Wikipedia83.5 mdepth of the steel foundation piles
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English and Russian Wikipedia2016the Skywalk opened outside the 88th floor
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designboom and BDC Network, 2016chinatravel.comJin Mao Tower tickets and opening hours
The observation deck is an indoor hall wrapping around the 88th floor. It opens daily 8:30–21:30, with last entry at 21:00. One seller lists a 20:30 close for the end of the year, so don't leave an evening visit to the last minute.
An adult ticket is ¥120 at the desk. Chinese platforms such as Qunar and international ones such as Pelago sell the same entry for roughly ¥80–90 — unofficial prices, but consistently lower. Children 1–1.3 m tall, full-time students and over-70s get concession tickets; children under 1 m or aged 3 and under go free.
Tickets are name-linked: you enter passport details online, and if your QR code won't scan, the desk swaps your voucher for a paper ticket against your passport. To pay, link a Visa or Mastercard to Alipay or WeChat Pay before your trip — that's how almost everything in Shanghai is paid — and carry some cash yuan as a backup.
Is Jin Mao Tower worth it?
Yes, if you want to see Shanghai's other towers rather than simply stand on the highest one. From floor 88, Shanghai Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center fill the windows right in front of you — the best elevated view of them you'll get. The look straight down the hotel atrium is something no other deck in Lujiazui has, and it's the cheapest of the three tower tickets.
Skip it if you've already been up Shanghai Tower that day, or if haze and low cloud have swallowed the skyline. The Skywalk is a different decision: it's a thrill ride for people who want to feel the height, and it costs more than twice the basic ticket.
What to see from the 88th floor
- The Grand Hyatt atrium — Jin Mao's signature view. Beneath the deck, the hotel's circular atrium drops some thirty floors, ringed by tiers of corridors, down to floor 56.
- Shanghai Tower up close — it stands across the street and fills the frame, twist and all. You can't take this shot from Shanghai Tower itself.
- The bottle opener — the SWFC's trapezoid opening sits almost at eye level next door.
- The Huangpu and the Bund — the river's bend, the old waterfront opposite and the spheres of the Oriental Pearl Tower below.
- The express lifts — basement to floor 88 in about 45 seconds.
Jin Mao Skywalk: price and what it's like
Opened in 2016, the Skywalk is a glass walkway 60 m long and 1.2 m wide running around the outside of the 88th floor, with no handrails, roughly 340 m above the street. You go out in a small group with an instructor, clipped by a harness to an overhead rail, and spend about 20 minutes on the ledge.
Prices start at ¥288 including deck entry; Travel China Guide gives a range up to ¥368 depending on the package. Sessions run roughly 9:00–20:30, and the same guide says the Skywalk is closed on Tuesday mornings. Arrive 30 minutes early for the security check, harness fitting and briefing. All of these are unofficial figures from guides and sellers.
It's not for anyone with a fear of heights, heart or blood-pressure problems, during pregnancy, or after a drink. Wear closed lace-up shoes and trousers. Phones and cameras aren't allowed on the walkway.
How to get to Jin Mao Tower
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Shanghai World Financial Center is about 3 min away on foot.
- Shanghai Tower is about 7 min away on foot.
- Lujiazui is about 11 min away on foot.
More tips
- From the Bund at Nanjing Road, walk back along pedestrian East Nanjing Road to East Nanjing Road metro station (lines 2 and 10) — about 10 minutes.
- Take Line 2 towards Pudong one stop under the river to Lujiazui — 2–3 minutes. The gates accept contactless foreign Visa and Mastercard cards, UnionPay and Alipay QR codes.
- Leave by Exit 6 and walk south for about 5 minutes to 88 Century Avenue, between Shanghai Tower and the bottle opener.
- Follow the "88F" / 观光厅 signs: the ticket desk and deck lifts start from basement level B1.
- Or take a taxi or DiDi (book it in Alipay) from the Bund through the river tunnel, 10–15 minutes without traffic; by day, the ¥2 ferry from Jinling East Road pier to Dongchang Road (until 18:30), then walk on through Lujiazui.
- From Pudong airport, ride the Maglev to Longyang Road and change to Line 2 for Lujiazui; from Hongqiao, Line 2 runs direct.
Jin Mao vs Shanghai Tower vs SWFC
| Jin Mao Toweryou are here | 420.5 m | Floor 88 | ¥120, less online | Atrium view, Shanghai Tower up close, Skywalk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Tower | 632 m | Floor 118, 546 m | ¥180 | The highest view in Shanghai |
| World Financial Center | 492 m | Floors 94–100, up to 474 m | ¥180, seasonal only | Glass floor under the roof |
All prices are unofficial. Jin Mao is the lowest and cheapest of the three, but the only one that shows you Shanghai Tower whole. For sheer height, go to Shanghai Tower; two decks in one day mostly repeat each other.
How tall is Jin Mao Tower, and why does it look like a pagoda?
Jin Mao (金茂大厦, roughly "Golden Prosperity Building") is 420.5 m tall including its spire, with 88 floors. Adrian Smith of Chicago firm SOM designed it, and it was built between 1994 and 1999. Its stacked, tapering tiers echo a Chinese pagoda, and the whole design revolves around the number 8, linked with prosperity in China: 88 floors and 16 tiers, each one-eighth shorter than the base.
The Grand Hyatt occupies floors 53 to 87, wrapped around the atrium. Jin Mao was Shanghai's tallest building from 1998 until 2007, when the SWFC overtook it; now it's the shortest of Lujiazui's three supertalls, but still the one with the most recognisable outline.
Before you go: checklist
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Shanghai's viewpoints compared
Every place in Shanghai with a view from above, rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.
| The Bund | 59 | 1 h | Free | 25 min walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Tower | 58 | 1 h 30 min | ¥180; students and 60+ ¥120 | 3 min walk |
| Shanghai World Financial Center | 50 | 1 h 15 min | CNY 180, seasonal | 3 min walk |
| Oriental Pearl Tower | 49 | 1 h 30 min | ¥199 — two spheres | 14 min walk |
| Jin Mao Toweryou are here | 48 | 1 h | ¥120; Skywalk from ¥288 | — |
| Lujiazui | 48 | 45 min | Free | 8 min walk |
| Shanghai Maglev | 46 | 30 min | ¥50, ¥40 with a same-day flight | 6.6 km |
| Huangpu River cruise | 39 | 1 h | ≈ ¥120–150; ferry ¥2 | 19 min walk |
Nanjing Road, the Bund and Jin Mao in half a day
Walk Nanjing Road down to the river, take in the skyline from the Bund, hop one metro stop under the Huangpu, wander Lujiazui and catch sunset from the 88th floor. YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- Nanjing Road1 h · Free
- 20 min walk from the previous stopThe Bund1 h · Free
- 18 min walk from the previous stopLujiazui45 min · Free
- 8 min walk from the previous stopJin Mao Toweryou are here1 h · ¥120; Skywalk from ¥288
4 places · about 4 h 31 min with walks · 46 min on foot in total
Nearby — add to your day
How to do it right
- Booking platforms usually beat the desk price for the deck — buy in advance with your passport details.
- Save for taxis: 金茂大厦, 世纪大道88号.
- Arrive by 20:30 in the evening: last entry is 21:00 and some sellers list an earlier close.
- The Skywalk is cancelled in bad weather — keep a spare day if it's the reason you came.
- One deck a day is plenty; see the towers lit up from the Bund in the evening.
- Not good with heights? The indoor deck is fully enclosed, and you lose nothing important by skipping the Skywalk.
Questions
How much is the Jin Mao Tower observation deck ticket?
¥120 for adults at the desk, about ¥80–90 online. Children under 1 m go free. These are unofficial prices from guides and sellers.
What are Jin Mao Tower's opening hours?
Daily 8:30–21:30, last entry 21:00.
How much does the Jin Mao Skywalk cost?
From ¥288 including the 88th-floor deck, up to ¥368 depending on the package. Book at least a day ahead.
What are the Skywalk requirements?
Sellers list ages 10–60, height 1.4–2 m, minimum weight 30 kg; under-18s need a guardian. Bring your passport; phones aren't allowed on the walkway.
How do I get to Jin Mao Tower?
Metro Line 2 or 14 to Lujiazui, Exit 6, then about 5 minutes south to 88 Century Avenue. From the Bund it's one stop from East Nanjing Road.
Is Jin Mao or Shanghai Tower better?
Shanghai Tower for the highest view in the city. Jin Mao for a close-up of Shanghai Tower, the atrium view and a cheaper ticket.
How tall is Jin Mao Tower?
420.5 m including the spire, with 88 floors. The Skywalk runs about 340 m above the ground.
Can you see the hotel atrium from the observation deck?
Yes — the deck looks straight down the Grand Hyatt's atrium, which rises from floor 56 to 87.
How long do you need at Jin Mao Tower?
About an hour for the deck and photos; 1.5–2 hours with the Skywalk, including security and briefing.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- Travel China Guide — price, hours, Skywalk, metro and Exit 6
- Pelago and Qunar — online prices and concessions (unofficial)
- dahepiao.com — concessions, lifts from B1
- 247tickets — Skywalk rules: age, height, weight, passport, weather
- designboom and BDC Network, 2016; chinatravel.com — Skywalk opening and dimensions
- English and Russian Wikipedia: Jin Mao Tower, Цзинь Мао; Wikidata Q80813
- City payment guides for foreign visitors — Alipay, WeChat Pay, contactless cards on the metro (unofficial)
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