Shanghai Tower
Building China's tallest skyscraper with distinctive twisting form
Shanghai Tower rises in Lujiazui’s Pudong skyline; its observation deck and twisted glass façade attract architecture fans. Visitors ride high-speed lifts for city views and combine visits with neighboring financial towers.
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Shanghai Tower is a supertall skyscraper in the Lujiazui financial district of Pudong, Shanghai, and is the tallest building in China at 632 metres. It was completed and opened in 2015 and is a landmark of Shanghai’s modern skyline.
The building’s most prominent features are its height and twisting, tapering form: it rises to 632 metres across 128 above-ground floors and houses office space, retail, a hotel, and visitor facilities. A high-level public observation area offers panoramic views of Pudong, the Huangpu River and the Bund skyline; the tower contains multiple elevator banks and large public atria.
Designed by Gensler with a double-skin facade and a stepped, spiraling profile, the tower was conceived to reduce wind loads on the structure and to stack mixed-use zones vertically. Its construction and fit-out created one of the largest mixed-use vertical megastructures in China.
The tower stands in Lujiazui facing the Huangpu River, adjacent to other Pudong skyscrapers such as the Shanghai World Financial Center and the Oriental Pearl Tower. It is directly accessible from Shanghai metro lines and lies across the river from the Bund in central Huangpu District.
- Best viewing time: Best light for skyline photography is at dusk when the tower's twisting form is lit and the Bund across the Huangpu River is visible.
- Size and year: Completed and opened to the public in 2015, the tower reaches 632 metres and contains 128 above-ground floors.
What to See #
- Observation deck: A glass-enclosed observation area and visitor facilities occupy the upper floors and provide panoramic views across Pudong and the Huangpu River; public access is available via ticketed entry at ground level.
- Atrium and retail: A multi-level shopping and arrival concourse sits at the tower base and connects to subway and street access, serving visitors and tenants.
- Offices and hotel: Office floors and mixed-use zones fill much of the tower, and a luxury hotel operates within the building alongside restaurants and conference spaces.
How to Get to Shanghai Tower #
Shanghai Tower sits in the Lujiazui financial district of Pudong. The easiest public-transit access is Shanghai Metro Line 2 to Lujiazui station - from that station it’s a short walk across the Lujiazui plaza to the tower (about 5-10 minutes on foot). Travelers arriving by Maglev can disembark at Longyang Road and transfer to Metro Line 2 to reach Lujiazui directly.
Tips for Visiting Shanghai Tower #
- Buy a timed-entry ticket for the Shanghai Tower observation deck online to secure a sunset or twilight slot and avoid long on-site queues.
- Arrive via Lujiazui metro station (Line 2) and enter through the tower's public lobby on Century Avenue; allow extra time for the mandatory security check before your scheduled time.
- If you want clearer views of the layered skyline, visit on a weekday or early morning when local weekend crowds and haze are often reduced-compare views with the nearby Shanghai World Financial Center for different perspectives.
Best Time to Visit Shanghai Tower #
For the Shanghai Tower observation decks, aim for weekday mornings in spring or autumn for the best combination of visibility and lighter crowds; avoid major Chinese holidays.
Weather & Climate near Shanghai Tower #
Shanghai Tower's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 1°C to 31°C. Abundant rainfall (1068 mm/year), wettest in June.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 8°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (48 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (56 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (68 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (79 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 16°C. Regular rainfall (95 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 21°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (162 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is the hottest month, feeling like 32°C with oppressive humidity. Significant rainfall (139 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is hot, feeling like 32°C with oppressive humidity. Significant rainfall (144 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 21°C. Significant rainfall (131 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is mild with highs of 22°C and lows of 15°C. Moderate rainfall (50 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (48 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (48 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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