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.

Main image

Shanghai Tower at a Glance#

Address: 501 Yincheng Middle Road, Lujiazui, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China

Website: https://www.shanghaitower.com/

Admission: Observation-deck tickets typically around ¥180 CNY for adults (prices subject to change)

About Shanghai Tower#

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.

Spring (weekday mornings best)
Mar-May · 10-22°C
Generally pleasant weather and often clearer skies; weekday mornings tend to have shorter lines at the observation decks.
Autumn (weekday mornings best)
Sep-Nov · 15-24°C
Typically good visibility and comfortable temperatures; expect heavier crowds on weekends and during major holiday periods (Chinese New Year and Golden Week).
Holiday peaks (very busy)
varies (Chinese New Year, Golden Week in early Oct) · varies
Major Chinese holidays produce very large crowds and long waits at popular observation and attraction times.

Weather & Climate near Shanghai Tower#

Climate

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.

Air Quality: AQI 92 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
OctoberSeptemberMay
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
40°
Warmest Month
-9°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Acceptable 1° - 8° 1° 48 mm partly cloudy 79% 4.3 m/s 0.4 low 10.2h
February Good 3° - 9° 2° 56 mm partly cloudy 80% 4.7 m/s 0.6 moderate 10.9h
March Acceptable 6° - 13° 7° 68 mm partly cloudy 78% 4.3 m/s 0.9 moderate 11.9h
April Good 11° - 19° 15° 79 mm partly cloudy 77% 3.8 m/s 1.2 high 12.8h
May Very Good 16° - 24° 20° 95 mm overcast 77% 3.6 m/s 1.4 high 13.6h
June Good 21° - 27° 24° 162 mm overcast 81% 3.5 m/s 1.3 high 14.0h
July Good 25° - 31° 32° 139 mm overcast 81% 3.2 m/s 1.8 very high 13.8h
August Good 25° - 31° 32° 144 mm partly cloudy 80% 3.7 m/s 1.8 very high 13.1h
September Very Good 21° - 27° 24° 131 mm partly cloudy 78% 3.3 m/s 1.3 high 12.2h
October Excellent 15° - 22° 19° 50 mm partly cloudy 76% 4.5 m/s 0.9 moderate 11.3h
November Very Good 9° - 17° 13° 48 mm partly cloudy 77% 4.3 m/s 0.5 moderate 10.4h
December Good 3° - 11° 4° 48 mm partly cloudy 76% 4.9 m/s 0.4 low 10.0h

Nearby Attractions to Shanghai Tower#