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Oriental Pearl Tower 东方明珠塔
The Oriental Pearl Tower as seen across the Huangpu River
General information
Location	Shanghai, China
Coordinates	31°14′31″N 121°29′42″E / 31.242°N 121.495°E / 31.242; 121.495Coordinates: 31°14′31″N 121°29′42″E / 31.242°N 121.495°E / 31.242; 121.495
Status	Complete
Constructed	1991–1995
Use	Communication, hotel, observation, restaurant
Height
Antenna or spire	468 m (1,535 ft)
Top floor	350 m (1,148 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	14
Elevators	6
Companies involved
Architect(s)	Shanghai Modern Architectural Design Co. Ltd.
Developer	Shanghai Oriental Group Co. Ltd.

The Oriental Pearl Tower (Chinese: 东方明珠塔; pinyin: Dōngfāng Míngzhūtǎ, official name: 东方明珠电视塔) is a TV tower in Shanghai, China. The Oriental Pearl Tower is located at the tip of Lujiazui in the Pudong district, by the side of Huangpu River, opposite The Bund of Shanghai.

It was designed by Jiang Huan Cheng of the Shanghai Modern Architectural Design Co. Ltd. Construction began in 1991 and the tower was completed in 1995. At 468 m (1,535 feet) high, it was the tallest structure in China from 1994–2007, when it was surpassed by the Shanghai World Financial Center. The Oriental Pearl Tower belongs to the World Federation of Great Towers.

On 7 July 2007, Oriental Pearl Tower was host to the Chinese Live Earth concert.

The Pearl Tower attracts over three million visitors each year.^{[citation needed]}

Structural data

The spheres in the tower

The tower features 11 spheres, big and small. The two biggest spheres, along the length of the tower, have diameters of 50 m (164 ft) for the lower and 45 m (148 ft) for the upper. They are linked by three columns, each 9 m (30 ft) in diameter. The highest sphere is 14 m (46 ft) in diameter.

The entire building is supported by three enormous columns that start underground.

Observation levels

Outdoor observation deck built in May 2009 featuring a glass floor

The tower has fifteen observatory levels. The highest (known as the Space Module) is at 350 m (1148 ft). The lower levels are at 263 m (863 ft) (Sightseeing Floor) and at 90 m (295 ft) (Space City). There is a revolving restaurant at the 267 m (876 ft) level. The project also contains exhibition facilities, restaurants and a shopping mall. There is also a 20-room hotel called the Space Hotel between the two large spheres.

Antenna spire

An antenna, broadcasting TV and radio programs, extends the construction by another 118 m (387 ft) to a total height of 468 metres (1,535 ft).

Chinese symbolism in the design

The design of the building said to be based on a verse of the Tang Dynasty poem Pipa Song by Bai Juyi about the wonderful sprinkling sound of a pipa instrument, like pearls, big and small falling on a jade plate (大珠小珠落玉盘/大珠小珠落玉盤/dà zhū xiǎo zhū luò yù pán). However, the designer Jiang Huancheng says that he did not have the poem in mind when designing the tower. It was the chief of the jury board who said it reminded him of that poem.^[1]

In popular culture

• In Life After People: The Series, the episode "The Invaders" shows the tower falling 70 years into our absence due to the Huangpu River flooding Shanghai, corrosion, and the fact that the city has sunk 35 inches under its own weight.
• In Godzilla: Final Wars it was destroyed when Karyu crashed after being knocked by Anguirus.
• In Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, it is shown twice, first when the Fantastic Four try to catch Dr. Doom, and secondly when the Human Torch pushes Dr. Doom into the Huangpu River
• In Mission Impossible III, it is shown several times during the mission, which was taking place in Shanghai.
• In the Weekly World News, it was shown a picture from 2320.
• In Ultraviolet, the character Six stands beneath it and looks up at it. It was also shown several times in subsequent scenes.
• The Tower is extensively featured in Empire of The Sun's music video for "Walking on a Dream"
• In Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, the tower is featured near the beginning of the movie, during the hunt for Decepticons hiding in Shanghai.

Gallery

Panoramic view of Oriental Pearl Tower

Oriental Pearl Tower

Night view:

Oriental Pearl at night

Oriental Pearl and night view of Pudong

The Oriental Pearl at night (the second tallest building is the Jin Mao Tower)

Inside the Pearl:

Viewpoint (263 meters)

Rotating restaurant (267 meters)

The revolving restaurant inside the 2nd-highest sphere

Sign at the "Space Module"

See also

• List of the world's tallest structures
• List of towers
• List of tallest freestanding structures in the world

Notes

1. ^ Miller, JFK. "Shanghai's Pearl Tower turns 15". Urbanatomy.com, January 5, 2010. Accessed March 15, 2010.

External links

• A picture of it at dawn
• Oriental Pearl Tower photos
• The poem by Bai Juyi on which the Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower was based

Skyscrapers in Shanghai over 170 metres Completed: Over 300 m Shanghai World Financial Center (492 m, 2008) · Oriental Pearl Tower (468 m, 1995) · Jin Mao Tower (421 m, 1998) · Shimao International Plaza (333 m, 2005) 200-300 m Plaza 66 Tower 1 (288 m, 2001) · Tomorrow Square (285 m, 2003) · Hong Kong New World Tower (278 m, 2002) · Bocom Financial Towers (265 m, 2002) · One Lujiazui (256 m, 2008) · Grand Gateway Shanghai Towers (262 m, 2005) · Bank of Shanghai Headquarters (252 m, 2005) · Maxdo Centre (241 m, 2005) · Cloud Nine (238 m, 2006) · International Ocean Shipping Building (232 m, 2000) · Plaza 66 Tower 2 (228 m, 2006) · Oasis Skyway Garden Hotel (226 m, 2006) · Bank of China Tower (226 m, 2000) · Raffles Square (222 m, 2003) · Jasper Tower (220 m, 2008) · The Regent Shanghai (218 m, 2005) · Shanghai Dong Hai Plaza (217 m, 2004) · World Finance Tower (212 m, 2000) · King Tower (212 m, 1996) · Pudong International Information Port (211 m, 2001) · Sofitel Jin Jiang Oriental Pudong Hotel (207 m, 2002) · Nan Zheng Building (205 m, 1998) · Lippo Plaza (204 m, 1998) · Shanghai Sen Mao International Building (203 m, 1998) · Huaxia Financial Square Towers (202 m, 2003) · Golden Bell Mansion (200 m, 1998) · Radisson Hotel Shanghai New World (200 m) 170-200 m World Plaza Shanghai (199 m, 1998) · Bund Center (198 m, 2002) · Wenxin United Press Building (197 m, 1999) · Lan Sheng Building (196 m, 1997) · China Insurance Building (196 m, 1999) · The Center (196 m, 2004) · CITIC Square (193 m, 2000) · Huaneng Union Tower (188 m, 1997) · CAAC Pudong Tower (188 m, 2001) · Bao'an Tower (188 m, 1997) · Shanghai Futures Building (187 m, 1998) · China Merchants Tower (186 m, 1995) · Shanghai China Merchants Plaza Office Building (186 m, 1998) · Aurora Plaza (185 m, 2003) · Pudong Development Mansion (185 m, 2001) · Ciro's Plaza (181 m, 2002) · Union Square Towers (185 m, 2005) · Pudong Shangri La Hotel Extension (180 m, 2005) · Citigroup Tower (180 m, 2005) · Shanghai Property Information Exchange Center (180 m, 2000) · Harbour Ring Plaza (178 m, 1998) · K. Wah Center (178 m, 2005) · Four Seasons Hotel (172 m, 2002) Under construction: Shanghai Tower (632 m, 2014) · White Magnolia Plaza (320 m, 2011) · Shanghai Wheelock Square (298 m, 2008) · TIPS China Building (289 m, 2009) · Albany Oasis Garden Office Tower (260 m, 2008) · Shanghai IFC North Tower (260 m, 2010) · Huamin King Tower (258 m, 2008) · Shanghai IFC South Tower (250 m, 2009) · X3-2 Office Development (200 m) · Park Place Office Tower (188 m) · Hopson International Tower (180 m, 2008) · China Merchants Bank Headquarters (180 m) · Shanghai Expo Guest Hotel (178 m) Buildings listed in order of height and with year of completion  ·  Building data source: Emporis See also: List of tallest buildings in Shanghai · Category:Buildings and structures in Shanghai · Buildings on the Bund