Lujiazui / Pudong, Shanghai

PuDong varies significantly in architectural design from The Bund, which is located directly across the Huang Pu River. There are numerous skyscrapers to be seen, all in shiny new metal construction, popping up everywhere.

Jin Mao Building is the third tallest in the world. Take the Jin Mao Tower up to the 88th Floor (observatory deck with floor space of 1,500+ square meters), where you'll be able to see this spectacular view of Pu Xi for RMB 50 (US$6). The tower has the best elevators available. Two direct elevators operate at the speed of 9.1 meters (nearly 30 feet) per second that can send visitors from the ground floor to the 88th floor for only 45 seconds. There are also five to six elevators every 10 floors, which reduce waiting-time to 35 seconds even during rush hours.

However, few recommendations: (1) Dont go on weekends and (2) Dont go if it's even mildly cloudy or hazy (the view is hard in bad weather).

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The waterfront on the Huangpu riverfront opposite the Bund is extensive and several noticeboards were used to identify the important buildings.

Time did not permit us to walk the Pudong waterfront something I regret as it would the nice to be close to these buildings.

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The Oriental Pearl Tower stands by the bank of Huangpu River. It is in the centre of Lujiazui, opposite to the Bund which is famous for its grand buildings of various architectural styles. The tower is 468 metres high. It is the highest TV Tower in Asia and is the third highest one in the world.

The Oriental Pearl Tower features 3 columns, each 9m, and 15 observatory levels. The highest which known as the Space Module is at 350 m. The lower levels are at 263 m which is the Sightseeing Floor and at 90 m which is the Space City. On the 259m Sightseeing Floor, there's the world's highest Air Post Office which avails you to send warm greetings to friends when you are overseeing the city. Six high-speed sightseeing elevators take passengers up to the bubbles of the tower, for a 3 dimensional view over the city.

I went there and it was too foggy to enjoy 100% of the view..

The great thing about OPT is the glass-bottomed floor. You can walk over the glass and see through it all the way down to the ground.

Entrance fee: RMB150 to see everything

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Known for its architecture, and the fact that it was the first modern building in Shanghai, the Oriental Pearl Tower is a tourist attraction for its spectacular views and its rotating restaurant.

On the day that we visited, the weather was perfect and it was quite a hot day. By the time we arrived at the tower it was becoming very overcast and within an hour the smog of the city was quite horrendous!

The easiest way to get to the Tower is to take the metro to Lujiazui station in Pudong and depart the station via exit 1. As soon as you “hit the sidewalk” the Pearl Tower is directly in front of you. The metro ticket was 4.50 Yuan and the entry to the viewing platform was 120 Yuan.

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The Chinese are building the equivalent to the NY skyline in Pudong. Over the Huangpu river, it looks spectacular at night and one of the best ways to get across is by using the Bund sightseeing Tunnel. Puxi, (where the Bund is) represents the old Shanghai, Pudong represents the new one. The jewel in the crown of this district is the Oriental Pearl tv Tower. Its magnificent and looks like a giant syringe. It cost about 135rmb (not including the revolving restuarant) to get in and the views of the city from inside are spectacular, night or day. Just as good is the great museum at the bottom, the Shanghai Municipal History Museum. Its well worth the money. There are other things like the Ocean Aquarium, the Natural Wild Insect Kingdom, the Lujiazui Development Museum, Century park, Science and Technology Museum, and the Jinmao Tower.

... is the neighbor of the Oriental Pearl Tower in Pudong.

You can even choose to have a view of the city from the Pearl Tower or from the 88th floor of this building.

Here the building view from the Pearl Tower.

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Lujiazui is the metro station of center of Pudong District. If you wish to see the modern Shanghai high rise buildings like Jin Mao Tower and Word Financial Center Building, and the Oriental Pearl Tower, this is the station that you can see them all. It comes with a huge circle pedestrian bridge allowing you to walk around to get the best spots of your pictures. It was really a "wow' moment for me during night time with all the lighting up.

In Chinese: 陆家嘴 (Lu Jia Zui)

Don't miss...

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The Grand Hyatt Shanghai hotel is the world's highest hotel located from the 53rd to 87th floors of Jin Mao Tower in Pudong. For great views of the Orient Pearl Tower and the Bund, go for high tea at the Grand Cafe located on the 53rd level. Prices are not expensive. Coffee latte costs only RMB 50, comparable to what you would normally have to pay in similar 5-star hotels in Shanghai.