Oriental Pearl Tower


The Oriental Pearl Radio & Television Tower 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 1995.
At 468 m 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 for the lower and 45 m for the upper. They are linked by three columns, each 9 m in diameter. The highest sphere is 14 m in diameter.
The entire tower is supported by three enormous columns that start underground.

Observation levels

The tower has fifteen observatory levels. The highest is at 351 m. The lower levels are at 263 m and at 90 m . There is a revolving restaurant at the 267 m 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.

Antenna spire

An antenna, broadcasting TV and radio programs, extends the construction by another 118 m to a total height of 468 m.

Chinese symbolism in the design

The chief of the jury board said 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. 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.

Gallery

Night view

Inside the Pearl