Dongfang Mingzhu and its spheres above the Huangpu River

Dongfang Mingzhu in Shanghai is a late twentieth-century steel television tower whose stacked spheres rise above the Huangpu River and face the historic Bund.

Dongfang Mingzhu is the slender steel television tower whose stacked spheres have become one of the clearest markers of Shanghai’s late twentieth-century skyline, rising above the Huangpu River in Pudong and facing the historic Bund across the water.

Steel, spheres and a vertical composition

The defining impression of Dongfang Mingzhu is the way a steel frame carries a sequence of spheres at different heights, giving the tower a layered vertical composition that is easy to read from the riverfront promenade and from the streets of Lujiazui.

The structure reaches a total height of 468 m (1,535 ft), placing it among the tallest structures in Shanghai and marking it as a prominent member of the city’s group of high-rise landmarks along the Huangpu River.468 m (1,536 ft) The tower’s steel construction supports not only the large spheres that visitors recognise but also smaller satellite elements and platforms that contribute to its tiered profile.steel television tower

A product of Shanghai’s 1990s skyline

Dongfang Mingzhu belongs to the period when Pudong’s riverfront was transforming into a district of high-rise buildings, and construction of the tower began in 1991 before being completed in 1994 as part of that phase of development.completed on 1 October 1994 The structure opened to visitors in 1995, adding accessible height to Shanghai’s skyline as well as a functioning communications facility.opened on 1 May 1995

The architects associated with Dongfang Mingzhu include Shanghai Modern Architectural Design Co. Ltd. and designers such as Jiang Huan Chen, Lin Benlin and Zhang Xiulin, whose work established the multi-sphere form that distinguishes the tower among television and radio structures worldwide.principal designers Jiang Huan Chen, Lin Benlin and Zhang Xiulin During the years after completion it held the status of China’s tallest structure until it was overtaken by newer high-rise projects in Shanghai’s financial district.China’s tallest structure until 2007

Observation levels and riverfront setting

Inside Dongfang Mingzhu, visitors move between observation levels positioned at different heights within the spheres and connecting sections, gaining changing views over Pudong’s business district, the Huangpu River and the historic façades of the Bund on the opposite bank.observation levels at different heights One of the highest viewing areas is associated with a height of about 350 m (1,148 ft), offering a vantage point over Shanghai’s layered high-rise skyline and the bends in the river below.highest observation level linked to 350 m

The tower stands in Lujiazui, Pudong, on Shanghai’s eastern side, beside the Huangpu River and opposite the Bund, positioning it within a dense cluster of office towers, hotels and other landmarks that form the city’s modern business district.located at Lujiazui on the banks of the Huangpu River Beyond its role as a viewing point, Dongfang Mingzhu continues to function as a radio and television transmission tower that serves numerous stations in Shanghai, so its technical role underpins the visual landmark that visitors encounter.transmitting signals for around 30 television and radio stations

Visiting Dongfang Mingzhu: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Dongfang Mingzhu stands in Lujiazui in the Pudong New Area on Shanghai’s eastern bank of the Huangpu River, within walking distance of the Bund’s riverfront when crossing by road or rail.
• The tower is reached by Shanghai’s metro network, with Lujiazui station serving the surrounding district and surface approaches involving urban pavements and standard city gradients rather than mountain paths.
• Observation levels are accessed by lifts and internal stairways, and moving between the different spheres involves indoor circulation spaces and changes in altitude that may be felt when looking out from higher viewing platforms.
• The official language is Mandarin Chinese and the currency is the renminbi.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Dongfang Mingzhu

Where is Dongfang Mingzhu located in Shanghai?

Dongfang Mingzhu stands in Lujiazui in the Pudong New Area on the eastern side of Shanghai, beside the Huangpu River and facing the Bund across the water.

What can visitors expect during a visit to Dongfang Mingzhu?

Visitors travel by lift to observation levels inside the tower’s spheres, where viewing platforms, exhibition spaces and other facilities are arranged at different heights above the city and river.

What makes Dongfang Mingzhu distinctive among Shanghai’s landmarks?

Its multi-sphere steel structure, 468 m (1,535 ft) height and dual role as a television tower and public viewing platform give Dongfang Mingzhu a distinctive profile in Shanghai’s riverfront skyline.