Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower | |
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东方明珠广播电视塔 | |
The Oriental Pearl Tower in December 2014
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General information | |
Type | Communication, hotel, observation, restaurant |
Location | Shanghai, China |
Coordinates | 31°14′31″N 121°29′42″E / 31.242°N 121.495°ECoordinates: 31°14′31″N 121°29′42″E / 31.242°N 121.495°E |
Construction started | July 30, 1991 |
Completed | 1994 |
Height | |
Antenna spire | 467.9 m (1,535 ft) |
Top floor | 350.0 m (1,148 ft) |
Technical details | |
Floor count | 14 |
Lifts/elevators | 6 |
Design and construction | |
Architect | Shanghai Modern Architectural Design Co. Ltd. |
Developer | Shanghai Oriental Group Co. Ltd. |
References | |
The Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower (Chinese: 东方明珠塔; pinyin: Dōngfāng Míngzhūtǎ; Shanghainese: Tonfon Mintsyta, official name: 东方明珠广播电视塔) is a TV tower in Shanghai. Its location at the tip of Lujiazui in the Pudong district by the side of Huangpu River, opposite The Bund, makes it a distinct landmark in the area. Its principal designers were Jiang Huan Chen, Lin Benlin, and Zhang Xiulin. Construction began in 1991, and the tower was completed in 1994.
At 468 m (1,535 feet) high, it was the tallest structure in China from 1994–2007, when it was surpassed by the Shanghai World Financial Center. It is classified as an AAAAA scenic area by the China National Tourism Administration. The tower is brightly lit in different LED sequences at night. On 7 July 2007, Oriental Pearl Tower was host to the Chinese Live Earth concert.
The tower features 11 spheres, big and small. The two largest spheres, along the length of the tower, have diameters of 50 m (164 ft) for the lower and 45 m (148 ft) for the upper. They are linked by three columns, each 9 m (30 ft) in diameter. The highest sphere is 14 m (46 ft) in diameter.
The entire tower is supported by three enormous columns that start underground.
The tower has fifteen observatory levels. The highest (known as the Space Module) is at 350 m (1148 ft). The lower levels are at 263 m (863 ft) (Sightseeing Floor) and at 90 m (295 ft) (Space City). There is a revolving restaurant at the 267 m (876 ft) level. The project also contains exhibition facilities and a small shopping center. There is also a 20-room hotel called the Space Hotel between the two large spheres. The upper observation platform has an outside area with a 1.5 inch glass floor.