First impressions

The first time I saw the tower, I was genuinely shocked. I could not believe how tall and beautiful it was in person. It was so much taller than I had ever imagined, and when I looked up at it, it felt like it stretched all the way to the sky. I was grateful to be standing in front of such an iconic landmark, and I could not wait to go inside and learn more about it.

One of the first things I noticed was the unique design. The large spheres stacked along the tower made it look completely different from any other skyscraper I had ever seen. It looked futuristic in a way that made it stand out from everything else around it. When we went inside and got in the elevator to go to the top, the ride was so fast that my ears started popping. That was the moment I realized just how high up we were actually going.

Dinner at the top

One of the best parts of the whole trip was getting to eat dinner at the restaurant near the top of the tower. It was an experience I felt really lucky to have because the restaurant was very exclusive and difficult to get a reservation at. The most fascinating part is that the restaurant slowly rotates as you eat, so without even getting up, you get a full 360-degree view of the entire city of Shanghai. Every time I looked out the window the view had changed, which made the whole meal feel exciting from start to finish.

The views at night were unlike anything I've seen before, which means a lot coming from someone who lives in New York City. Seeing all the city lights spread out below us and realizing how big and modern Shanghai is from up there was something I will not forget. The food was also amazing, serving Shanghainese cuisine such as soup dumplings, pan-fried pork buns, and scallion pancakes.

History and significance

The Oriental Pearl Tower is located in the Lujiazui financial district in Pudong, which is the center of Shanghai's modern economic development. It was completed in 1994 during a time when Shanghai was growing rapidly and becoming one of the most important cities in the world. What makes that even more interesting is that the Pudong area around the tower used to be farmland not too long before it was built. Looking at the skyline today it is hard to even picture that.

The design of the tower also has a deeper and significant meaning. The spheres are inspired by a classical Chinese poem about pearls falling onto a jade plate, which is a facsinating way of connecting traditional culture with a very modern building. At 468 meters tall it was once the tallest structure in all of China, and it still remains one of the most recognizable landmarks in Shanghai today. Inside the tower, there are multiple observation decks, a glass-bottomed walkway, and a museum dedicated to Shanghai's history.

Overall, the tower represents how quickly China modernized and grew. The fact that an entire financial district rose up from farmland in just a few decades is something that is hard to fully understand until you are actually standing there looking at it. The Oriental Pearl Tower is a symbol of that progress, and it of the most impressive things I saw on my entire trip.

Chinese vocabulary

东方明珠Dōngfāng míngzhū - Oriental Pearl (Tower)

摩天大楼. Mótiān dàlóu - Skyscraper

观光Guānguāng - Sightseeing / tourism

旋转餐厅Xuánzhuǎn cāntīng - Revolving restaurant

陆家嘴 Lùjiāzuǐ - Lujiazui financial district
现代化 Xiàndàihuà - Modernization

浦东 Pǔdōng - Pudong (Shanghai district)

夜景Yèjǐng - Night scenery / city lights