Oriental Pearl Tower
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 |
Coordinates | 31°14′30″N 121°29′41″E / 31.241669°N 121.494717°ECoordinates: 31°14′30″N 121°29′41″E / 31.241669°N 121.494717°E |
Construction started | 30 July 1991[1] |
Completed | 1994[2] |
Height | |
Antenna spire | 467.9 m (1,535 ft) |
Top floor | 351.0 m (1,152 ft) |
Technical details | |
Floor count | Equivalent of a 153 story building |
Lifts/elevators | 6 |
Design and construction | |
Architect | Shanghai Modern Architectural Design Co. Ltd. |
Developer | Shanghai Oriental Group Co. Ltd. |
References | |
[3][4] |
The Oriental Pearl Radio & Television Tower (simplified Chinese: 东方明珠塔; traditional Chinese: 東方明珠塔; pinyin: Dōngfāng Míngzhūtǎ; Shanghainese: Tonfån Mintsythah, 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 New Area 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 (1,536 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.[5] 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.
In 1995, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower was rated as one of the top ten new landscapes in Shanghai. In 1999, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower won the first prize of Shanghai Excellent Survey and Design Award and the Zhan Tianyou Award of China Civil Engineering. On May 8, 2007, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower was approved by the National Tourism Administration as a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction.
The entire tower is supported by three enormous columns that start underground.
Observation levels[]
The tower has fifteen observatory levels. The highest (known as the Space Module) is at 351 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.[6]
Antenna spire[]
An antenna, broadcasting TV and radio programs, extends the construction by another 118 m (387 ft) to a total height of 468 m (1,535 ft).
Chinese symbolism in the design[]
The chief of the jury board said[7] that the design reminded him of a verse of the Tang Dynasty poem "Pipa Song" by Bai Juyi about the wonderful sprinkling sound of a pipa instrument, like pearls, big and small falling on a jade plate (大珠小珠落玉盘/大珠小珠落玉盤/dà zhū xiǎo zhū luò yù pán). However, the designer Jiang Huancheng says that he did not have the poem in mind when designing the tower.
2010 fire[]
On 13 April 2010 the antenna at the top of tower caught fire at around 02:00. The fire was then put out by firefighters. No casualties were reported. Prior to the fire there was a series of thunderstorms.[8][9]
Gallery[]
The Oriental Pearl tower at night
The tower is illuminated every evening
Panoramic view of Oriental Pearl Tower
Looking up at the Oriental Pearl Tower
Oriental Pearl Tower in the evening
Oriental Pearl Tower panorama in the evening
Night view[]
Oriental Pearl at night
Oriental Pearl and night view of Pudong
Oriental Pearl in the clouds at night
The Oriental Pearl at night (the second tallest building is the Jin Mao Tower
Oriental Pearl Tower
Inside the Pearl[]
Elevator shaft in lobby atrium
Viewpoint (263 meters)
Rotating restaurant (267 meters)
The revolving restaurant inside the 2nd-highest sphere
See also[]
- List of tallest buildings in Shanghai
- List of tallest freestanding structures in the world
- List of the world's tallest structures
- List of towers
References[]
- ^ http://www.beijingexplore.com/shanghai/Oriental-Pearl-TV-Tower.html
- ^ SkyscraperPage - Oriental Pearl Tower
- ^ "Oriental Pearl Tower". SkyscraperPage.
- ^ Oriental Pearl Tower at Emporis
- ^ "AAAAA Scenic Areas". China National Tourism Administration. 16 November 2008. Archived from the original on April 4, 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
- ^ "Oriental Pearl Tower". Sunspire Photography.
- ^ Miller, JFK (January 5, 2010). "Shanghai's Pearl Tower turns 15". that's Shanghai. Urbanatomy Media. Retrieved 2011-05-29.
- ^ Mop.com. "Mop.com Archived 2010-04-16 at the Wayback Machine." 上海东方明珠塔顶发射架发生火灾 无人员伤亡. Retrieved on 2010-04-13.
- ^ Xinhua.com. "Xinhua.com." Shanghai's Oriental Pearl Tower catches fire, no casualties reported. Retrieved on 2010-04-13.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oriental Pearl Tower. |
- Official website
Geographic data related to Oriental Pearl Tower at OpenStreetMap
- AAAAA-rated tourist attractions
- Buildings and structures in Shanghai
- Towers with revolving restaurants
- Contemporary Chinese architecture
- Landmarks in Shanghai
- Observation towers in China
- Skyscrapers in Shanghai
- Towers completed in 1994
- Tourist attractions in Shanghai
- Skyscraper hotels in Shanghai
- 1994 establishments in China