Oriental Pearl Tower Shanghai: 468M Views & Buffet

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1/10

Duration1h–3h

Mobile ticketAccepted

The Glass Corridor at 259 Meters: What Shanghai Looks Like From Inside the Clouds

You get entry to two observation decks, a transparent glass corridor at 259 meters, and access to the Shanghai History Museum at the base. If you book the buffet, you dine in the revolving restaurant at 267 meters while the city rotates around you. Arrive with your QR code, and plan to spend three to four hours if you're including a meal.

1h–3h

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Oriental Pearl Tower and Buffet

Arrive at Oriental Pearl Tower
Explore exhibition hall at base
Go up to 360-degree observatory
Walk on glass corridor
Dine at revolving restaurant buffet
Enjoy city views while dining

The Experience

The moment you step into the transparent observatory, the city drops away beneath your feet. You're standing inside a glass corridor at 259 meters—high enough that the Huangpu River looks like a thread, the traffic below moves in silent patterns, and the horizon stretches flat and endless in every direction. The Oriental Pearl Tower is 468 meters tall, the second-highest structure in China, and from up here you understand why it's been Shanghai's landmark since 1995. The main sightseeing deck sits at 263 meters, a full gallery that circles the sphere, but it's the glass walkway that stays with you—that moment when there's nothing between you and the air.

The tower moves you through three distinct spaces. Start at the base with the Shanghai History Museum, a quieter stop that most visitors skip but shouldn't—it traces the city from a fishing village to what it is now, and the context matters when you're standing 259 meters above it all. Then up to the observation decks, where you can spend as long as you want. The revolving restaurant at 267 meters is where the buffet happens; it's not a quick meal, it's a full rotation. International dishes, the city turning slowly around you, and the whole thing takes about an hour. If you're booking the buffet option, note that the reservation cancels 30 minutes after your start time if you don't show—so don't book it for a time you can't make.

There's also a VR coaster at 95 meters if you want the adrenaline part, though it's separate from the main ticket. The whole visit—museum, both observation levels, and a meal—takes three to four hours depending on how long you linger at the windows. Kids under 100 centimeters tall get in free, which is a real saving if you're traveling with young children. You'll get a QR code when you book online; that's your entry ticket. Don't lose it, and don't try to use a reference number or barcode at the gate—the staff won't accept it.

The tower opens at 8am and stops admitting people at 9:30pm, so you've got a wide window. Public transport gets you there easily, and the entrance is at the 4.2-meter level of the building. It's not a hidden experience—it's one of the most visited spots in Shanghai—but standing in that glass corridor, watching the city rotate below you, it doesn't feel crowded. It feels like you've stepped outside the city to look at it.

What’s included

Admission to the Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai History Museum at the base, transparent observatory at 259 meters, sightseeing gallery at 263 meters, and access to both observation decks.
If you book the buffet option, it includes one seating at the revolving restaurant at 267 meters with international buffet service.
Children under 100 centimeters enter free.
QR code entry is provided upon booking confirmation.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Travel China Guide

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the main Shanghai skyline views without arranging separate transport or timing multiple attractions—the tower combines history, observation, and dining in one location, and the QR code entry means you skip the ticket counter line.