Jin Mao Tower
Shanghai, China
Shanghai Tower, Lujiazui
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Photo: Stefan Fussan, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- ¥180; students and 60+ ¥120
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours
- Daily 8:30–22:00, last entry 21:30 — unofficial; one seller lists 21:30 close and 20:30 last entry
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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 30 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Adult ticket
- ¥180 — floor 118 deck and the B1 exhibition
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Students and 60+
- ¥120 with student card or passport
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Children
- 1–1.4 m tall ¥90; under 1 m free (some sellers say under 1.2 m)
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Where to buy
- Official online channels: Trip.com (Ctrip), LY.com, Lvmama, Meituan, Dianping; or the ticket office
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - ID
- Passport required — checked at entry
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Entrance
- Basement levels B1/B2, on the Lujiazui metro side
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Address
- 501 Yincheng Middle Road, Lujiazui, Pudong
- Metro
- Lujiazui — Line 2 Exit 6, Line 14 Exit 9A
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Time needed
- ≈ 90 minutes including queues and the exhibition
Key facts
632 mChina's tallest building and the world's third tallest
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Shanghai Tower official websiteEnglish and Russian WikipediaFloor 118Top of Shanghai Observatory, 546 m above the ground
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Shanghai Tower official websiteRussian Wikipedia≈ 20 m/shigh-speed lifts — under a minute to the deck
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English and Russian Wikipedia127 floorsabove ground plus 5 below (Wikipedia counts 128 above)
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Shanghai Tower official websiteEnglish Wikipedia≈ 1,000 tpendulum damper near the top (floor 125 or 126 by source) that steadies the sway
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Russian WikipediaChinese news sites (163.com, QQ News)2008ground broken on 29 November
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Shanghai Tower official websiteEnglish and Russian Wikipedia2017the observation deck opened to the public in April
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Pudong Release (Pudong district government)Russian WikipediaGenslerthe US firm behind the design, team led by Jun Xia
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English and Russian Wikipedia≈ 140,000 m²of curved glass curtain wall; the outer skin twists as it rises
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Shanghai Tower official websiteEnglish WikipediaFloor 52Duoyun Books, a bookshop 239 m up
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Shanghai Tower official websitewanderinchina.comShanghai Tower tickets and opening hours
A standard adult ticket to the Top of Shanghai Observatory costs ¥180 and covers the floor 118 deck plus the B1 exhibition. Students and over-60s pay ¥120, children 1–1.4 m tall ¥90, and under 1 m go free. Three travel guides agree on these prices, but the official website doesn't publish them, so treat them as unofficial.
Unofficially the deck is open daily 8:30–22:00, last entry 21:30. One reseller lists an earlier close (21:30, last entry 20:30), so aim to be at the lifts by 20:00.
The official site names Trip.com (Ctrip), LY.com, Lvmama, Meituan and Dianping as its online channels; you can also buy at the tower. Tickets are timed and tied to your passport. Paying as a foreigner: booking online with a Visa or Mastercard on Trip.com is easiest. On site, expect Alipay or WeChat Pay (both accept linked foreign cards) or cash yuan — unofficial; card terminals may not take foreign cards.
Upgrades exist — a damper show on floors 125–126, café packages on floor 119 — but sellers list different contents and prices, so check what's included when you buy.
Is Shanghai Tower worth it?
Yes, on a clear day — it's the highest view in Shanghai, and from up here you look down on the roofs of the Jin Mao Tower and the "bottle opener" next door, with the river's bend and the Bund beyond. If you'll do just one deck in the city, YesGo's pick is this one.
It's not worth it in fog, heavy rain or thick haze: you'll pay full price to see cloud. And if you want the classic skyline photo with this tower in it, you need to be somewhere else — the Bund at night or the Jin Mao Tower next door.
How to get to Shanghai 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
- Jin Mao Tower is about 7 min away on foot.
- Shanghai World Financial Center is about 5 min away on foot.
- Lujiazui is about 9 min away on foot.
More tips
- From the Bund at East Nanjing Road, walk back along pedestrian Nanjing Road to East Nanjing Road metro station — about 10 minutes.
- Take Line 2 towards Pudong for one stop under the river to Lujiazui.
- Leave by Exit 6 and follow signs through the lower level of the Shanghai IFC Mall — about 10 minutes to the tower. From Line 14, use Exit 9A.
- Deck visitors enter on the tower's basement levels (B1/B2) at 501 Yincheng Middle Road: security, passport and QR check, then the lift.
- Alternatives: a Huangpu ferry to Dongchang Road pier, then bus 339 to South Pudong Road — or the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel under the river.
- From Pudong Airport, ride the Maglev to Longyang Road and change to Line 2 for Lujiazui; from Hongqiao, Line 2 runs direct.
What to see inside
- B1 exhibition — how the tower was built on Shanghai's soft ground; 10–15 minutes.
- The lift — around 20 m/s, under a minute to floor 118.
- Floor 118 — panoramic windows all the way round: the Jin Mao and World Financial Center rooftops below, the spheres of the Oriental Pearl Tower and the curve of the Huangpu.
- The damper on floors 125–126 — a 1,000-tonne pendulum that steadies the tower, shown on an upgrade ticket.
- Duoyun Books, floor 52 — a bookshop 239 m up; unofficially free, with a WeChat reservation.
- After dark — the Bund and every Lujiazui tower lit up below you.
How tall is Shanghai Tower?
Shanghai Tower is 632 metres tall — China's tallest building and the third tallest in the world. Officially it has 127 floors above ground and 5 below; Wikipedia counts 128 above. The observatory on floor 118 is 546 m up.
Next door, the Jin Mao Tower is 420.5 m and the Shanghai World Financial Center 492 m; the Oriental Pearl TV tower reaches 468 m with its spire. Dubai's Burj Khalifa, at 828 m, is nearly 200 m taller.
Its lifts were the world's fastest at 20.5 m/s until 2017, when Guangzhou's CTF Finance Centre reached 21 m/s.
Shanghai Tower vs Jin Mao vs Oriental Pearl
| Shanghai Toweryou are here | Skyscraper, China's tallest | 632 m | Floor 118, 546 m | The highest view over the whole city |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jin Mao Tower | Pagoda-style skyscraper | 420.5 m | Floor 88 | A close view of Shanghai Tower |
| Oriental Pearl | TV tower with spheres | 468 m with spire | Top level 351 m | The tower itself and glass floors |
For the highest view, Shanghai Tower. For a photo with Shanghai Tower in it, Jin Mao. For the retro landmark everyone recognises, the Oriental Pearl.
How the tower was built
Ground was broken on 29 November 2008, the structure was finished at the end of 2014, the building opened in 2015 and the observation deck in April 2017. The design is by the US firm Gensler, with a team led by architect Jun Xia.
The official site lists the engineering records: a building of over 850,000 tonnes on soft delta soil, a foundation slab poured in one go with 60,000 m³ of concrete, and around 140,000 m² of curved glass. The outer glass skin twists as it rises, and a 1,000-tonne damper near the top steadies the sway.
Before you go: checklist
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You are ready for the visit
Shanghai's viewpoints compared
Every Shanghai viewpoint rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.
| The Bund | 59 | 1 h | Free | 25 min walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Toweryou are here | 58 | 1 h 30 min | ¥180; students and 60+ ¥120 | — |
| Shanghai World Financial Center | 50 | 1 h 15 min | CNY 180, seasonal | 4 min walk |
| Oriental Pearl Tower | 49 | 1 h 30 min | ¥199 — two spheres | 16 min walk |
| Lujiazui | 48 | 45 min | Free | 9 min walk |
| Jin Mao Tower | 48 | 1 h | ¥120; Skywalk from ¥288 | 3 min walk |
| Shanghai Maglev | 46 | 30 min | ¥50, ¥40 with a same-day flight | 6.5 km |
| Huangpu River cruise | 39 | 1 h | ≈ ¥120–150; ferry ¥2 | 20 min walk |
The Bund and Pudong in half a day
The Bund, the metro under the river, Shanghai Tower and its neighbours, then an evening on the Huangpu. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- The Bund1 h · Free
- 25 min walk from the previous stopShanghai Toweryou are here1 h 30 min · ¥180; students and 60+ ¥120
- 3 min walk from the previous stopJin Mao Tower1 h · ¥120; Skywalk from ¥288
- 14 min walk from the previous stopOriental Pearl Tower1 h 30 min · ¥199 — two spheres
- 7 min walk from the previous stopHuangpu River cruise1 h · ≈ ¥120–150; ferry ¥2
5 places · about 6 h 49 min with walks · 49 min on foot in total
Nearby and on your route
Shanghai World Financial Center
Shanghai, China
Lujiazui
Shanghai, China
Oriental Pearl Tower
Shanghai, China
How to do it right
- Book the slot an hour before sunset for day, dusk and night views in one ticket.
- Pop next door to the Jin Mao Tower afterwards — it's where Shanghai Tower fits in the frame.
- The best shot of the tower itself is from the Bund after the lights come on.
- Press your lens to the glass and cup your hand around it to kill reflections.
- Don't go up in fog or rain — move it to another day if you can.
- Get the metro exit right: Exit 6 at Lujiazui on Line 2.
Questions
How much is the Shanghai Tower ticket?
¥180 for adults, ¥120 for students and over-60s, ¥90 for children 1–1.4 m, free under 1 m. These come from travel guides; the official site doesn't publish prices.
What are Shanghai Tower opening hours?
Unofficially daily 8:30–22:00, last entry 21:30. Be at the lifts by 20:00 to be safe.
Is Shanghai Tower worth visiting?
On a clear day, yes — it's the highest view in Shanghai. In fog or heavy haze, skip it and go another day.
How do I get to Shanghai Tower?
Metro Line 2 to Lujiazui, Exit 6, then about 10 minutes on foot through the IFC Mall; from Line 14 use Exit 9A.
How tall is Shanghai Tower?
632 metres, with the observation deck at 546 m on floor 118.
How many floors does Shanghai Tower have?
127 above ground and 5 below according to the official site; Wikipedia counts 128 above ground.
Do I need my passport?
Yes. Tickets are real-name, and your physical passport is checked before you go up.
Which is better: Shanghai Tower or the Oriental Pearl?
Shanghai Tower for the highest view; the Oriental Pearl for the landmark itself and its glass floors. Most people need only one deck.
How fast is the Shanghai Tower lift?
About 20 m/s — under a minute to floor 118. It held the world speed record until 2017.
Is there a hotel in Shanghai Tower?
Yes, the J Hotel opened in the upper part of the tower in 2021.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- Shanghai Tower official website — project overview, Top of Shanghai Observatory, Sky Lobby, public transport
- Pudong Release (Pudong district government) via The Paper, 11.02.2026 — deck opened in 2017
- English and Russian Wikipedia: Shanghai Tower, Jin Mao Tower, Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center; Wikidata Q18547
- chinatravel.com, dahepiao.com, wanderinchina.com, Pelago — prices, ticket categories, hours
- sh.bendibao.com — hours and address
- 163.com and QQ News — the tower's damper
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