Shanghai & Nanjing 6 - 15 Sep 2008 (Part 2) - The Oriental Pearl Tower 东方明珠
Depending on how high you want to go up the tower, the admission fees vary. I bought the 150Y ticket that included all three observation spheres, the Space City and the Shanghai History Museum. There is an even more expensive ticket that includes a Huangpu River cruise but I gave that a miss. The observation decks are at 90 m, 263 m and 350 m. As you move up the various elevators, the lady guides will recite their memorised script to tell you about the history and features of the tower. Built in 1994, it was the tallest structure in Shanghai until the World Financial Centre was completed in 2008 (just weeks before I arrive). View from the observation deck was fantastic but I realise there isn't much difference between the second and third sphere for the extra 50Y I pay. (Tip: Choose a clear day to visit, they say you can see Korea peninsula from the tower). The extra 50Y also allowed me to have free rides at the Space City at 90 m, including many thrill rides that had me screaming my hearts out. The Oriental Pearl Tower is located within walking distance from Lujiazui MRT station.
