Dongfang Mingzhu and its stacked spheres above the Huangpu

Dongfang Mingzhu in Shanghai is a late twentieth-century steel television tower whose stacked spheres reshape Pudong’s skyline above the Huangpu River.

Dongfang Mingzhu, known in English as the Oriental Pearl Tower, rises above the Huangpu River in Shanghai as a late twentieth-century steel television tower defined by a chain of stacked spheres and slender supporting columns. Completed in 1994 and opened to visitors in 1995, it reaches a total height of 468 m (1,535 ft) and anchors the Lujiazui district of Pudong opposite the historic Bund on the river’s western bank.Completed in 1994

Steel, spheres and a vertical composition

The defining feature of Dongfang Mingzhu is a vertical composition that links a sequence of spheres with steel columns and diagonal braces, creating a tower that is as much a sculptural object as a piece of broadcasting infrastructure.Oriental Pearl Tower The two largest spheres stand well above the surrounding city fabric, with one set closer to the base and another higher up the shaft, while smaller satellite spheres and cylindrical elements punctuate the structure between them.468 m structure

Within this framework of metal and geometry, floors are contained inside the spheres and in the connecting sections, giving the tower enclosed spaces at different heights along its length. Observation levels sit high above the river, enclosed within the upper parts of the structure, and an enclosed glass-walled corridor wraps around one of the mid-level sections to create a ring that visitors can walk around while looking out across the city.observation decks The steel lattice and reinforced concrete elements carry the weight of the spheres and antenna, giving the tower both its engineering practicality and its distinctive outline against the sky.

Late twentieth-century Pudong and a changing skyline

Construction of Dongfang Mingzhu began in 1991 and finished in 1994, placing it firmly in the period when Shanghai was extending its high-rise skyline eastward into Pudong.Construction period 1991–1994 At 468 m (1,535 ft), including its antenna, the tower became one of the tallest structures in Shanghai and held the status of the city’s tallest building for many years before later towers surpassed it.third tallest structure Its height and prominent siting beside the river meant that it quickly became a fixed point in views of Pudong from the Bund, forming a clear contrast with the lower, older riverfront buildings on the opposite bank.

The tower was designed by Shanghai Modern Architectural Design Co. Ltd., with principal designers including Jiang Huan Chen, Lin Benlin and Zhang Xiulin, and combines its broadcasting function with public uses such as observation levels, a revolving restaurant and exhibitions.principal designers It transmits radio and television signals for numerous stations in Shanghai, giving it a continuous role in the city’s communications network alongside its presence as a visual landmark and visitor destination.radio and television transmission

Dongfang Mingzhu beside the Huangpu River

Dongfang Mingzhu stands at No. 1 Century Avenue in the Lujiazui area of Shanghai’s Pudong New Area, on the eastern bank of the Huangpu River opposite the Bund.No. 1 Century Avenue Around its base, a plaza and access routes connect the tower with neighbouring office blocks, shopping centres and other high-rise developments that form Shanghai’s financial district. The river curves beside the site, so views from the tower take in the band of development along both banks, from the historic waterfront façades of the Bund to the newer glass and steel towers of Pudong.

Within the tower, enclosed viewing levels offer broad city panoramas, while the glass skywalk at mid height forms a continuous loop around one of the spheres, suspended well above ground level and projecting outwards from the main structure.glass skywalk Above these, higher enclosed decks sit closer to the top of the tower, near the base of the uppermost sphere and beneath the antenna section, marking the points where the tower’s viewing functions intersect with its technical role as a transmission mast.total height of 468 m

Visiting Dongfang Mingzhu: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Dongfang Mingzhu stands in Lujiazui in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area on the eastern bank of the Huangpu River, opposite the Bund, and is reached by city streets and bridges that cross the river.
• The tower is integrated into a dense high-rise district with paved plazas and internal circulation routes, and reaching the higher viewing levels involves using lifts and stairways within the structure.
• Shanghai’s metro network serves Lujiazui station in the financial district, from which Dongfang Mingzhu is within walking distance along urban streets and pedestrian routes.
• The official language is Chinese and the currency is the Chinese yuan.

Searching for Dongfang Mingzhu on social platforms

These links open searches for Dongfang Mingzhu on each platform.

Frequently asked questions about Dongfang Mingzhu

Where is Dongfang Mingzhu located in Shanghai?

Dongfang Mingzhu stands at No. 1 Century Avenue in the Lujiazui area of Pudong, on the eastern bank of the Huangpu River directly opposite the Bund.

What can visitors expect inside the tower?

Visitors encounter enclosed observation levels, exhibitions and dining spaces contained in the spheres and connecting sections, including a glass skywalk loop at mid height around part of the structure.

What makes Dongfang Mingzhu distinctive among Shanghai’s towers?

Its height of 468 m (1,535 ft), stacked spherical volumes and riverside position in Lujiazui give Dongfang Mingzhu a silhouette that is easily recognised in views of Shanghai’s skyline.