Shanghai Tower: Observation Deck, Tickets and Getting There
Ride to the 546-metre observation floor of Shanghai Tower: what the route includes, how to book with your passport, and the metro and ferry routes to Lujiazui.
Contents
Shanghai Tower (上海中心大厦) rises 632 metres in Pudong's Lujiazui district, the tallest building in China.[1] The Top of Shanghai Observatory sits on floor 118 at 546 metres, and the lift that takes you there is billed as the world's fastest.[2] Up top you get a 360-degree view of the city skyline.[3]
The visit is a route, not a single deck. It runs from the Top of Shanghai Exhibition Hall on B1, up to the floor-118 observatory, and on to the SKY632 Art Space on floors 125 and 126.[2] Check which of these your ticket includes before you pay.
What you see on the way up
| Stop | What it is |
|---|---|
| B1: Top of Shanghai Exhibition Hall | Seven zones of multimedia displays on the skyline, skyscrapers and the "vertical city", and the design behind the tower[2] |
| Floor 118: observatory | The 546-metre viewing floor with the 360-degree panorama[2] |
| Floors 125 and 126: SKY632 | An art space with a light, sound, projection and laser show in three chapters, set at the top of the tower[2] |
The panorama is the reason most people come. If you care about how the tower is built, the exhibition hall at the start is worth your time. SKY632 is a separate experience, so look for the ticket that names it.
Plan on two to three hours for the whole thing, with more if you add SKY632, a meal or a walk along the river. Getting there comes on top of that.
Things to Do
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GetYourGuide partner offers. GoAsia may earn a commission if you book through these offers. Check whether tickets or transfers are included, and follow the attraction's official booking and admission rules.
Tickets and ID
Buy online. The tower names Ctrip, LY.com, Meituan and Dianping as its official online ticket channels.[2] Tickets are sold under a real-name system, so you need your ID card or passport to buy and to get in.[4] Enter the passport details exactly as printed, and keep your order code ready at the gate.
Pick your date and time slot when you book, and choose the product that includes the floors you want. Prices differ by ticket type and channel, so compare the final total before you pay.
For questions, the operator's hotline is +86-21-80370150, answered daily from 09:00 to 18:00.[2] That is the phone desk's schedule, not the opening time of the observatory.
Getting there
The nearest metro stop is Lujiazui. Take Line 2 to Exit 6 and walk through the Shanghai IFC Mall (via LG2), or take Line 14 to Exit 9A.[5] Follow the signs to the observatory entrance rather than an office or hotel lobby. The address is 501 Yincheng Middle Road (银城中路501号).
From Pudong Airport, the maglev runs to Longyang Road, where you change to Line 2 and get off at Dongchang Road station, about 50 minutes in all. From Hongqiao Airport, Line 2 from Songhong Road to Dongchang Road takes about 50 minutes too. From Shanghai Railway Station, change at People's Square to Line 2 for Dongchang Road.[5]
For a more scenic arrival from Puxi, take the Dongfu Line ferry from Fuxing Road Ferry Pier to Dongchang Road Ferry Pier. It runs until 21:00 and suits the evening lights. Pedestrians pay 2 yuan.[6] From the Dongchang Road wharf, bus 339 goes to the South Pudong Road stop near the tower. The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel also works: walk from its Pudong exit.[5]
The building behind the view
Construction started on 29 November 2008, the structure was finished by the end of 2014 and trial operation began in January 2017. It is not a single-purpose observation tower: it holds offices, a hotel, entertainment and sightseeing under one roof.[1]
Gensler designed the twisting form. The spiral shape reduces wind load, and the double-skin facade cuts energy use. Sky gardens and a mix of uses stack up the height.[7] Look up from the base to see the curve before you go inside.
The exhibition hall on B1 explains that design in more detail. Upstairs, use the river and the neighbouring towers to find your bearings.
Visibility, timing and photographs
Check the sky before you commit. Low cloud and haze can swallow the upper floors, so a clear view of the top from the street is a good sign.
Come by day to read the layout of the city. Come around sunset if you want to watch the skyline switch on. Book that slot early, because you want time inside before the light goes.
Glass reflects the room at night, so press your lens close to the window and shade it with your hand. Keep your gear small.
Pair it with the river
Lujiazui rewards a walk. The neighbouring Jin Mao Tower and Shanghai World Financial Center stand a few steps away, and from the ground the three towers make a striking trio.
To see all three from the water, take the Huangpu cruise from Shiliupu Piers 1 and 2. It passes the Bund, the Oriental Pearl Tower, Jinmao Tower, the World Financial Center and Shanghai Tower. From 26 February to 25 November the day voyage costs 120 yuan and the night voyage 150 yuan.[6]
The China travel overview helps you place Shanghai within a wider trip.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] Shanghai Tower Construction and Development Co., Ltd.: Shanghai Tower: building dimensions and construction history. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
- [2] Shanghai Tower Construction and Development Co., Ltd.: Top of Shanghai Observatory: observation floors, ticket channels and identification. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
- [3] Shanghai Municipal Government: Top of Shanghai Observatory: city visitor description of 22 May 2026. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
- [4] Shanghai Tower Construction and Development Co., Ltd.: 上海之巅观光厅: real-name ticketing (Chinese page). Retrieved October 21, 2026.
- [5] Shanghai Tower Construction and Development Co., Ltd.: Official transport guide: Lujiazui metro exits and arrival options. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
- [6] Shanghai International Service Portal: Exploring Shanghai by boat: ferry lines, Huangpu cruise prices. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
- [7] Gensler: Shanghai Tower: the architect explains its spiral and double-skin design. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Top of Shanghai Observatory is on floor 118, 546 metres up. The tower itself is 632 metres tall. The route also takes in the exhibition hall on B1 and the SKY632 Art Space on floors 125 and 126.
Online, through the tower's official channels: Ctrip, LY.com, Meituan and Dianping. Tickets are real-name, so bring the passport or ID card you booked with. Compare the included floors and the final total before you pay.
The operator's hotline is +86-21-80370150, answered daily from 09:00 to 18:00. That is the phone desk's schedule, not the observatory's opening time.
Take Metro Line 2 to Lujiazui, Exit 6, via Shanghai IFC Mall LG2, or Line 14 to Lujiazui, Exit 9A. The address is 501 Yincheng Middle Road. Follow the signs to the observatory entrance.
Yes. The Dongfu Line ferry runs from Fuxing Road Ferry Pier in Puxi to Dongchang Road Ferry Pier in Pudong until 21:00 and costs 2 yuan for pedestrians. Bus 339 continues from the wharf to the tower.
Choose a clear day. Go by day for the city layout, or at sunset to watch the skyline light up. Book the slot early so you have time inside before dusk.
