Is Oriental Pearl Tower Worth it? A Local’s Guide to the Oriental Pearl Tower
If you’re bringing kids to Shanghai, you absolutely can’t miss the opportunity to see the city from above. Since Shanghai is essentially the skyscraper capital of China, I’ve checked out the “Top of Shanghai” at the Shanghai Tower before, but this time I chose the Oriental Pearl Tower for my kids. It simply offers more to do, including 360-degree views, a glass skywalk, and a fascinating history museum, making it a huge hit for families.
Pro-Tips for Your Visit
The Oriental Pearl Tower is the most iconic landmark on the Bund. It sits right across from the start of the Bund walkway at Nanjing East Road. With its space-age design, you can spot it from almost anywhere along the waterfront.
In fact, nearly every photo of the Huangpu River features this tower front and center, as it’s the undisputed star of the skyline. Beyond being an architectural feat, it’s also a powerful symbol of Shanghai’s modern transformation.
Getting There
Getting to the tower is incredibly easy:
- By Metro: Take Line 2 to the Lujiazui Station. Use Exit 2, and the tower will be right in front of you.
- By Taxi/Didi: Taxis in Shanghai are reasonably priced. As long as it’s not morning or evening rush hour, taking a car is a great way to save time and energy.
When to Go (and When to Avoid)
My first piece of advice: avoid peak travel seasons if at all possible. This includes the May Day holiday, the October Golden Week, and both winter and summer school breaks.
I visited during the Summer, and seeing the massive line, I thought maybe a “buffet combo” ticket on Trip.com could help me skip the queue. I called to check, and they confirmed that buffet guests can bypass the main line to go straight to the revolving restaurant. Unfortunately, by the time I tried to book, they were already sold out for the day.
In the end, I opted for the Three-Sphere Sightseeing Pass because it includes a fast-track option. If I hadn’t, I probably would have been stuck waiting in line for at least two hours!
Ticket Information and Planning Your Visit
The tower’s striking design features three spheres strung together by massive columns, with a tripod-like base. Once you’re inside, you’ll notice the layout matches the exterior. High-speed elevators zip you up to different levels, each offering their own themes and activities.
Ticket Options
- Two-Sphere Sightseeing Pass: 199 RMB (~$28).
- Kids’ Pricing: Children under 3.3 ft (1 meter) are free. Those between 3.3 ft and 4.3 ft (1–1.3 meters) qualify for half-price tickets.
I usually check Trip.com for deals, as it’s often a few bucks cheaper than the official price. You can also buy tickets via the official “Oriental Pearl” WeChat mini-program, or at the ticket counter. Here are the two best combo deals:
- Three-Sphere Pass (299 RMB / ~$42): This includes access to all three levels and, most importantly, a Fast Pass to skip the lines. If you hate waiting, this is worth every penny.
- Sightseeing + Revolving Restaurant Buffet (490 RMB / ~$68): In my opinion, this is the best value. You bypass the lines entirely, and enjoy a full buffet while watching the sunset and the city lights turn on.
Essential Tips for a Smooth Trip
- Book Early: The buffet combos sell out fast, especially during peak season, so grab them in advance on Trip.com.
- Is the Space Capsule Worth It?: Honestly, I found the Space Capsule (the smallest, highest sphere) a bit underwhelming for the price. You’re better off putting that money toward the buffet combo instead.
- Bring Your Passport: This is a big one: you must have your physical passport to enter the tower. A photo on your phone usually won’t cut it.
- The One-Way Rule: Take the elevator to the main 263-meter observation deck first, then work your way down. Keep in mind that once you descend to a lower level, you generally cannot go back up.
- Dress for the Wind: The 259m glass skywalk has outdoor ventilation, so it can get quite breezy. Bring a light jacket, even if it’s warm at ground level.
- Hours: The tower is open from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (last entry at 8:30 p.m.).
My Recommended Itinerary
To get the most out of your visit, I recommend this schedule:
- 3:00 p.m.: Start at the Shanghai Municipal History Museum (located on the ground floor). It’s surprisingly immersive and great for kids.
- 4:30 p.m.: Head up to the Glass Skywalk in the main sphere for those “walking on air” photos.
- 5:30 p.m.: Have dinner at the Revolving Restaurant to catch the sunset.
- 7:30 p.m.: Head to the lower decks for the iconic night views once the city is fully lit up.
- 8:30 p.m.: Wrap up your night with a stroll along the Bund to enjoy the river breeze and see the tower from the outside.
Taking in the Views of the Bund
The #1 reason to go up the Oriental Pearl Tower is to get an incredible bird’s-eye view of the entire Bund.
And while you’ll see a typical city skyline, the Bund itself has three unique features that set it apart.
For starters, Shanghai is the undisputed economic powerhouse of mainland China, and since the Bund is its crown jewel, seeing the metropolis from above gives you a feel for the city’s energy and scale.
On top of that, the Bund is located right along the Huangpu River, the gateway to the mighty Yangtze. As one of China’s two most legendary rivers, the Yangtze cuts across the entire country and carries 5,000 years of culture. Seeing the cargo ships that pass by gives you a sense of the river’s historical weight.
Finally, along the water’s edge is the historic row of European-style buildings that the Bund is famous for. These colonial-era landmarks are a piece of old Europe right in the heart of modern Asia. During the late Qing Dynasty, they were outposts for various nations, living witnesses to a turbulent area and now a preservation of global architectural styles.
The 351-Meter Space Capsule Experience
When I visited, I bought the ticket that included the 351-meter Space Capsule. I was really looking forward to it, but to be honest, it was a bit of a letdown. The area is tiny, just one small loop, and they’ve even squeezed a souvenir shop in there. For a spot that requires an extra fee, it doesn’t quite feel like you’re getting your money’s worth.
It’s essentially a small room decked out in blue lights and futuristic backdrops. It’s filled with prop instrument panels and control boards that feel a little dated, and the interactive screen games aren’t exactly mind-blowing. While there are windows, they are much smaller than the floor-to-ceiling glass on the lower levels, so you don’t get that same breathtaking, wide-open view.
That being said, the entrance fee is separate from the standard tickets, which is a perk if you’re interested in seeing it. When I went, it was practically empty, allowing me to bypass the huge lines for the rest of the tower.
My Advice: Unless the main lines are absolutely brutal and you’re desperate for a shortcut, stick with the 199 RMB Two-Sphere Pass. It’s more than enough to get the full experience.
The Glass Skywalk
After the main observation deck, I took the elevator to the transparent skywalk in the middle sphere. This is easily one of the most iconic and pulse-pounding parts of the Oriental Pearl Tower. While many major cities have high-altitude decks, a 360-degree walkway with a fully transparent glass floor is actually pretty rare.
When you’re standing on the glass, it feels like a normal window—until you look directly down. My stomach did a total somersault. Even though I knew it was safe, I couldn’t stop my mind from racing. Looking at the corridor, you don’t see massive support beams right under you, so stepping onto the glass for the first time definitely triggers some fight-or-flight instincts!
Of course, the fear is purely psychological. The tower has safely hosted millions of tourists for decades. Besides, this is Shanghai’s treasure, so China’s top-tier engineering is on full display here, and they don’t leave a margin for error. And the best part for me was my daughter standing next to me, completely unfazed, shouting, “Dad, what are you even afraid of?”
Food at the Oriental Pearl Tower
I planned my tour to go from the top down, so I skipped the restaurant levels this time, like the revolving buffet and the Coca-Cola themed restaurant.
Pro-Tip: If you have the time and the budget, they’re worth checking out. But buy a combo ticket on Trip.com beforehand. It usually only adds about 100 RMB (~$14) to your ticket, which is a total steal compared to paying for a meal separately.
While you’re exploring, you’ll find a small snack bar in the middle sphere. The selection is simple—mostly popcorn, drinks, and Oden (savory Japanese-style fish cakes in broth). Surprisingly, the Oden was totally legit. The ingredients were high quality and it tasted great. My kid and I finished one cup and immediately went back for seconds. It’s a solid way to make sure nobody gets “hangry” while exploring.
The Main Event: The VR Roller Coaster
As you head down to the lower sphere, there is one unique attraction you absolutely have to experience: the VR Roller Coaster. When I first heard there was a roller coaster inside the tower, I assumed it was a physical ride weaving through the building. I quickly realized that while a static glass floor is fine, having a car zooming around a narrow tower sounded a bit too dangerous!
I probably wouldn’t have tried it on my own, but just like the skywalk, my daughter wasn’t about to let an adventure pass us by. We grabbed two tickets for 99 RMB each (~$14), put on the VR goggles, and started a two-minute journey that was both nerve-wracking and incredibly cool.
I’m so glad my daughter dragged me onto the ride. Even though the actual car is likely just moving in a small circle, the VR headset makes you feel as if you’ve been launched out of the tower. You feel like you’re zipping between the skyscrapers of the Bund and circling the tower itself. Suddenly, you’re blasting off into space, flying past planets before catching a glimpse of the Earth on your way back. It was a total thrill, and my daughter was screaming the whole time!
The “Shanghai Forward” Multimedia Show
After this high-tech ride, head down a few levels to the interactive multimedia show called “Shanghai Forward” (or Geng Shanghai, 更上.海). It teleports you 50 to 100 years into the future to see what this mega-city might look like a century from now.
The experience is pretty cool. You step onto a moving walkway (like the ones at the airport) and glide around a massive 360-degree spherical screen. The visuals are stunning, displaying futuristic concepts for the city. The part that really stuck with me was the public transit. With vehicles zipping through the air, it felt like a scene straight out of Batman Begins.
The best part? You don’t need an extra ticket for this, so I’d definitely recommend checking it out, either when you first arrive or right before you head out.
Shanghai Municipal History Museum
Located on the ground floor, this museum maps out the city’s transformation over the last 700 years. It recreates the lifestyle of Old Shanghai across different eras, highlighting traditions that have nearly vanished, like rickshaws, blacksmith shops, and traditional cotton spinning. Even after a long day, my kids were captivated and didn’t want to leave.
I’d highly recommend this for international visitors in particular because the exhibits are incredibly engaging. It’s definitely not a dry display of artifacts in glass cases. Instead, they use beautifully detailed miniatures, life-sized wax figures, and full-scale reconstructions, complete with sound and light effects, to bring the history to life.
You can feel the evolution from the old walled city to the modern Bund. Even if you don’t speak a word of Chinese, the visual storytelling is so good that you won’t miss a beat.
Tip: Entry is free if you already have a ticket for the tower.
Solo Visit: If you aren’t going up the tower, you can visit the museum by itself for a separate 30 RMB (~$4) ticket.
A Sweet Souvenir: White Rabbit Candy (大白兔奶茶)
As you head toward the exit, you’ll pass through a shopping area (the classic “exit through the gift shop” setup). However, there’s one shop here that is actually worth a stop: White Rabbit Candy (大白兔奶糖).
Just about every person in China grew up snacking on these iconic, creamy milk candies, famous for the thin layer of edible rice paper. The store is usually buzzing, and since you’re in Shanghai, it’s a great chance to grab a few bags to take home. It’s a delicious, nostalgic piece of the city to share with friends.
The Verdict: Is the Oriental Pearl Tower Worth It?
Based on my experience and my kids’ reactions, the answer is a resounding yes. If you only see it from the outside, you might assume it’s just another observation deck. But once you’re inside, you realize they’ve utilized the tower’s architecture to offer a variety of experiences, from the death-defying glass floor to the immersive history museum. It’s a fantastic, well-rounded day out and a must-do for anyone visiting Shanghai with family!
