The Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai is a sight to behold. It was completed in 1994 at a height of 1,535 feet, making it the tallest building in China since its completion and until the year 2007. Currently, it is the fifth tallest building in the world. The positions of the Nanpu and Yanpu bridges in relation to the tower creates an image of dragons playing with pearls. Therefore, the name of the tower is the Oriental Pearl Tower (东方明珠塔 Dōngfāngmíngzhū tǎ). As a matter of fact, the tower is a TV tower that provides residents with nine television channels and ten FM radio channels.
The three sightseeing spheres are what makes this landmark so unique. The top sphere–The Space Module–only consists of a viewing platform to get a beautiful bird’s-eye view of the city. The middle sphere consists of three levels with more observation decks, shops, and a revolving restaurant, which actually serves both Chinese and western food. The tower also has a transparent, glass sightseeing floor, which provides an amazing view of the Huangpu River and the buildings beneath. The sphere closest to the ground is called Space City and offers a low view of the city.
At the base of the tower resides the Shanghai History Museum. Inside the museum, there are wax figures, architecture, and a variety of historical artifacts. The Oriental Pearl Tower is a very popular attraction, which means that there is often a long wait to get in. When I traveled to China, there was a two hour wait before we could enter! However, its beauty can also be experienced from the outside, as it is a key addition to the breathtaking Shanghai skyline.
Sources:
https://www.chinahighlights.com/shanghai/attraction/oriental-pearl-tv-tower.htm
https://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/shanghai/oriental_pearl.htm
I have never heard about the oriental pearl tower until today. From this discription it sounds like a place that I wouold like to travel to. This is a good example of chinese archetecture.