Jin Mao Tower
Shanghai, China
Shanghai World Financial Center
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Photo: Baycrest, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- CNY 180, seasonal
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours in season
- 10:00–22:00, last entry 21:30
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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 15 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Observatory
- Floors 94, 97 and 100; the 474 m top level has a glass-floored walkway
- Season
- Opens in seasons, usually summer to late November; closed the rest of the year
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Adult ticket
- CNY 180 for all three levels (last confirmed season)
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Students and seniors
- CNY 120
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Children
- CNY 90; under 1 m free
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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
- The observatory's official WeChat account or Trip.com-style platforms; tickets are name-linked to your passport
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Entrance
- West entrance on Dongtai Road; ticket desk and lifts on B1, facing Jin Mao Tower
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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 8, 5–10 min on foot
- Address
- 100 Century Avenue, Lujiazui, Pudong
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
492 mroof height, 101 floors above ground
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English and Russian Wikipedia474 mthe 100th-floor Sky Walk with its glass floor
2 sourcesi
English WikipediaTravel China Guide2008the tower opened on 28 August, the observatory on 30 August
2 sourcesi
English WikipediaChinanews, 20081997foundation stone laid; work stalled after the Asian financial crisis and resumed in 2003
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English and Russian Wikipedia46 mthe original circular opening, swapped for a trapezoid in 2005
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English and Russian WikipediaKohn Pedersen Foxthe New York architects
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English and Russian WikipediaMori Buildingthe Japanese developer
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English and Russian Wikipedia94 / 97 / 100observatory floors at 423, 439 and 474 m
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English WikipediaTravel China Guide3 supertallsside by side: Jin Mao (420.5 m), SWFC (492 m) and Shanghai Tower (632 m)
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English and Russian WikipediaNo spirearchitect and developer refused to add one just to chase a height record
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English and Russian WikipediaShanghai World Financial Center tickets and opening hours
The observatory has three levels: a hall on the 94th floor (423 m), the 97th floor (439 m) right beneath the opening, and the 100th-floor Sky Walk (474 m) with glass panels in the floor. In season it opens daily 10:00–22:00, last entry 21:30.
In the last season with officially announced fares, an adult ticket for all three levels was CNY 180; students and seniors paid 120; children, military and disabled visitors 90. During themed seasons, Chinese ticket platforms sell cheaper bundles from CNY 99 — unofficial, so check what the ticket includes before paying.
Tickets are real-name: you enter your passport details when buying. Sales run through the observatory's official WeChat account and Chinese ticket platforms. As a foreign visitor, link your Visa or Mastercard to Alipay or WeChat Pay before the trip — that is how almost everything is paid in Shanghai. Carry some cash yuan as a backup, and check whether an on-site ticket desk is running this season.
Why is it called the bottle opener?
The Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC) is a 492 m tower in Lujiazui, Pudong's financial district on the east bank of the Huangpu. It holds offices, a mall, a hotel on the upper floors and the observatory at the top. The trapezoid-shaped hole through the crown makes it look like a giant bottle opener — and that is what everyone calls it.
The first design had a 46 m circular opening to ease wind loads. Critics in China said it looked like the rising sun on the Japanese flag, and in 2005 the architects switched to a trapezoid, which was also cheaper and simpler to build.
How to get to the Shanghai World Financial Center
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 3 min away on foot.
- Shanghai Tower is about 5 min away on foot.
- Lujiazui is about 11 min away on foot.
More tips
- From the Bund, walk back along pedestrian Nanjing Road to East Nanjing Road metro (lines 2 and 10) — about 10 minutes.
- Take Line 2 towards Pudong one stop under the river to Lujiazui — 2–3 minutes. Contactless foreign Visa and Mastercard cards work at the gates.
- Leave by Exit 8 and walk east along Century Avenue past Jin Mao Tower — 5–10 minutes.
- Look for the west entrance on Dongtai Road, facing Jin Mao; the observatory ticket desk and lifts are on B1.
- Or take a taxi or DiDi (book it in Alipay) from the Bund — 10–15 minutes without traffic — or ride the Bund Sightseeing Tunnel and walk about 15 minutes from its Pudong exit.
What to see from the top
- The glass floor on the 100th floor — a walkway of about 55 m right under the roof, with Lujiazui's streets beneath your feet. Not keen on heights? Keep to the edge.
- Jin Mao from above — at 474 m you look down on its 420.5 m crown, while Shanghai Tower rises alongside.
- The Huangpu and the Bund — the bend in the river, the old waterfront across the water and the Oriental Pearl Tower below.
- The 97th floor — right under the opening, where you see how the bottle opener is put together.
- Sunset and city lights — the operator says the express lift reaches the top in 66 seconds; go up an hour before sunset to catch daylight and the lights.
SWFC vs Shanghai Tower vs Jin Mao: which observation deck?
| World Financial Centeryou are here | 492 m | Floors 94, 97, 100, up to 474 m | Glass floor, views of both neighbours | Seasonal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Tower | 632 m | 118th floor, 546 m | The highest point in Shanghai | See its page |
| Jin Mao Tower | 420.5 m | 88th floor | Looking down into the hotel atrium | See its page |
If SWFC is open and you want the glass floor, go here. If it is closed, or you want the highest view in town, pick Shanghai Tower. Two decks in one day mostly repeat each other.
Is the Shanghai World Financial Center worth it?
When it is open, yes — especially at sunset. It is lower than Shanghai Tower, but that is the point: from here you see both neighbours properly, Jin Mao below and Shanghai Tower beside you, plus the Huangpu bend and the Bund. The glass-floored walkway is the one thing the other decks don't do in quite the same way.
Skip it on hazy or low-cloud days, when the view shrinks to grey, and skip it if you have already been up Shanghai Tower the same day. If you are short on time, the skyline from the Bund at night is free and arguably the better picture.
A short history
The foundation stone went down on 27 August 1997, but the Asian financial crisis stalled the project, and work only restarted in 2003 on the existing foundations. Japan's Mori Building developed the tower to a design by New York firm Kohn Pedersen Fox. It topped out in September 2007 and opened on 28 August 2008.
A spire was discussed to push it past rival towers, but the architect and developer refused, so the roof stays flat at 492 m.
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 | 28 min walk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Tower | 58 | 1 h 30 min | ¥180; students and 60+ ¥120 | 4 min walk |
| Shanghai World Financial Centeryou are here | 50 | 1 h 15 min | CNY 180, seasonal | — |
| Oriental Pearl Tower | 49 | 1 h 30 min | ¥199 — two spheres | 16 min walk |
| Lujiazui | 48 | 45 min | Free | 10 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 | 6.4 km |
| Huangpu River cruise | 39 | 1 h | ≈ ¥120–150; ferry ¥2 | 22 min walk |
The Bund and Lujiazui in half a day
The Bund's old waterfront by day, the tunnel under the river, a walk among the towers and sunset from 474 m. YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- The Bund1 h · Free
- 8 min walk from the previous stopBund Sightseeing Tunnel20 min · ≈ ¥50 one way, ¥70 return
- 14 min walk from the previous stopLujiazui45 min · Free
- 10 min walk from the previous stopShanghai World Financial Centeryou are here1 h 15 min · CNY 180, seasonal
4 places · about 3 h 52 min with walks · 32 min on foot in total
Nearby — add to your day
How to do it right
- Go up an hour before sunset for daylight views and then the lights coming on along the Bund.
- Observatory closed? Shanghai Tower next door is higher anyway.
- Save the Chinese name and address for taxis: 上海环球金融中心, 世纪大道100号.
- Haze and low cloud wipe out the view — check the forecast and be ready to switch days.
- One deck per day is enough; see the towers lit up from the Bund in the evening.
- Nervous about heights? You can walk the edge of the 100th-floor walkway and skip the glass.
Questions
Is the Shanghai World Financial Center observation deck open?
Seasonally. After about three years closed it reopens for summer-to-autumn seasons, usually ending in late November. Check that tickets are on sale before you go.
How much is the SWFC observation deck ticket?
In the last confirmed season, CNY 180 for adults (all three levels), 120 for students and seniors, 90 for children. Themed seasons sometimes bring cheaper bundles.
What are the SWFC observatory opening hours?
In season, daily 10:00–22:00, last entry 21:30.
Which floors is the observatory on?
Floors 94 (423 m), 97 (439 m) and 100 (474 m). The 100th floor is the Sky Walk with the glass floor.
How do I get to the Shanghai World Financial Center?
Metro Line 2 or 14 to Lujiazui, Exit 8, then 5–10 minutes on foot east along Century Avenue to the west entrance on Dongtai Road.
Is SWFC or Shanghai Tower better?
SWFC for the glass floor and views of its two neighbours, when it is open. Shanghai Tower for the highest view in the city.
Why is it called the bottle opener?
Because of the trapezoid-shaped hole through the top of the tower, which makes its outline look like a bottle opener.
How tall is the Shanghai World Financial Center?
492 m to the roof, with 101 floors above ground. It opened in 2008.
How long do you need at the SWFC observatory?
1–1.5 hours for the three levels and photos; up to two hours if you wait for sunset.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- Shanghai World Financial Center official building website — address and access
- Sina News citing the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism — 2025 observatory season, hours, entrance
- Shanghai Bendibao (sh.bendibao.com) — 2025 season, fares, Dongtai Road entrance, metro
- Travel China Guide — observatory floors, glass walkway, B1 entrance
- Chinanews, 2008 — observatory opening and glass floor
- English and Russian Wikipedia: Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai Tower, Jin Mao Tower; Wikidata Q80852
- Qunar — themed observatory tickets (unofficial)
- City payment guides for foreign visitors — Alipay and WeChat Pay with foreign cards; contactless cards on the metro (unofficial)
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