One look at the Oriental Pearl Tower and you get why Shanghai is famous. This ticket takes you up through the tower’s different spheres for panoramic views plus the thrill of the glass skywalk, and it also adds the Shanghai History Museum at ground level so the skyline doesn’t come out of nowhere. My favorite part is the sky-high perspective, but a heads-up: it can get crowded and noisy, especially on weekends.

You’ll spend your day moving between heights (259m, 263m, and 351m), then drop back down to learn how this city grew from a fishing area into a global hub. The revolving restaurant experience is a big bonus if you time it right, and I like that the package includes the tower’s major viewpoints—though you may still find extra attractions inside that aren’t covered.

Key things to know before you go

• Glass skywalk at about 259 meters is the moment that feels most intense
• Space Capsule (351m) is your highest observation stop for wide, bird’s-eye views
• Main deck at 263m is a great photo tier for the skyline and the Huangpu River
• Shanghai History Museum sits at the base, grounding what you see above
• Revolving restaurant rotates over about 90 minutes if you add a meal

Lujiazui’s icon: what the Oriental Pearl Tower actually is

The Oriental Pearl Tower is pure Pudong drama. It’s in Lujiazui, near the river, and its shape comes from a classical Chinese poem idea about “large and small pearls dropping onto a jade plate.” The tower was completed in 1994 and reaches 468 meters (1,535 feet), with an eleven-sphere design that makes it easy to spot across Shanghai.

What you’ll love is that this isn’t just one viewpoint. You access multiple levels in the tower, each with its own feel. The lower and middle spheres are more about crisp views across the city, while the upper sphere (the Space Capsule) is where you really feel the height.

The other smart piece: the package includes the Shanghai History Museum at the base of the tower. That means you’re not just looking at modern Shanghai—you’re seeing the story behind it while you’re still in the exact place where the city shows up in miniature. If this is your first time in Shanghai, that context helps a lot.

One practical consideration: because it’s a top landmark, it’s popular. On weekend days, expect more people and more chatter at the decks.

Transparent Skywalk and Space Capsule (351m): the height you’ll remember

If you only do one “wow” thing, make it the glass-bottomed walkway. You’ll be at the Transparent Skywalk level, around 259 meters. The glass floor is designed for that classic floor-is-visible feeling, so you get a new angle on everything below—streets, river curves, and the blocks spreading out like a map. If you’re nervous about heights, don’t force it. This part is genuinely not for people who hate looking down.

Then comes the Space Capsule observation deck at 351 meters, which is the highest viewpoint in the tower in this ticket. At this height, Shanghai looks less like individual buildings and more like a grid of neighborhoods, highways, and waterways. The distance flattens the city in a good way: you can spot the shape of the Huangpu River system and see how the downtown core connects to Pudong.

I like pairing the glass skywalk with the Space Capsule because they teach you two different things. The skywalk makes you react. The Space Capsule makes you orient. Once you’ve done both, you’ll walk back out feeling like you finally understand the city’s layout.

Tip from experience with busy attractions: go early if you can. When you beat the peak crowds, the glass walkway feels more like a thrilling moment instead of a slow shuffle.

Main Observation Deck at 263m: your best skyline photo tier

The ticket also includes the main observation deck experience at about 263 meters (the Second Sphere, with the transparent/skywalk area described around 259 meters). This is a sweet spot. It’s high enough to give you serious city views, but it’s not so high that you lose the ability to pick out landmarks.

If you’re into photos, this level is where you’ll likely get the most useful “Shanghai overview” shots: the skyline stack in front of you, the river in the wider view, and the layered look of Pudong’s skyline across the water.

This deck is also a good place to pause. The tower experience can feel fast if you hop through everything quickly. At 263 meters, take a moment to slow down and actually watch the city move. Even without a guided story, the view helps you understand why Shanghai grew the way it did—water access, trade routes, and the wide-open space Pudong was built to develop.

And because the area can get busy, a calm strategy helps: do your photos, then step back and reposition. It’s better than trying to get every shot right in the middle of the densest crowd.

Shanghai History Museum at the base: connect the skyline to the story

After the heights, you’ll head to the Shanghai History Museum located at the base of the Oriental Pearl Tower. This part is quietly important. The museum covers Shanghai’s transformation from a fishing village into a global metropolis, and it uses life-size dioramas, historical photographs, and immersive-style exhibits to make the change feel real instead of abstract.

Why this matters: when you’re staring at a modern skyline, it’s easy to assume the city always looked like this. The museum resets that assumption. You’ll learn what Shanghai was before high-rises and major bridges, so the tower views feel less like a postcard and more like a timeline.

I also appreciate that it’s included with your ticket. Many tower visits treat history as an afterthought. Here, you can do one ticket and come away with both the view and the context.

If your day in Shanghai feels like “big stops only,” this is the kind of stop that makes your time feel fuller without taking all day.

Revolving Restaurant: rotating dining with 360-degree city views

The middle sphere houses the revolving restaurant. It sits around 267 meters, and the full rotation takes about 90 minutes. That means you can eat while the view slowly changes all around you—360 degrees is the point, and the rotation helps you see more than one direction without constantly standing up.

This is one of those experiences where timing matters. If you eat too early, you might miss the transition from daylight to night. If you eat too late, you risk being rushed. The tower also has a night light show, so night views are a big deal if your schedule allows.

Also, a reality check: the package emphasizes admissions and observation access, and it lists food and drinks as not included. So think of the revolving restaurant as optional to upgrade your day—if you want it, budget for your meal there.

Even if you don’t eat, the revolving concept is still useful. It tells you how the tower is designed: you’re meant to experience Shanghai from more than one angle, over time.

Going early matters: crowds, noise, and night-light timing

The Oriental Pearl Tower is one of those places where your mood is partly decided by timing. On weekends, it can get very busy, and the top decks can feel noisy and crowded. That doesn’t ruin the views, but it changes the vibe. You might spend more time inching forward than taking in details.

Here’s the practical move: go earlier in your day. One review experience called out that queues were manageable when visiting early, and that the atmosphere upstairs can get louder later. I’d treat that as your playbook.

If you’re aiming for the night scene, plan around the tower’s closing rhythm. The last admission is one hour before closing time at 8:30pm. In plain terms: if you want the light show reflections on the Huangpu River, you need to be inside well before the last admission window.

So you have two good strategies:

• If you want comfort and less crowd pressure, go early for brighter views and slower pacing.
• If night views and the tower’s changing light show are your priority, reserve enough time so you’re not rushing at the end.

Price and value: what $67 includes (and what it doesn’t)

At about $67 per person for a one-day ticket, this can be good value if you care about hitting multiple tower experiences without piecing together separate entries.

What’s included:

• Admission to the Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower
• Access to the Shanghai History Museum
• Entry to the Space Capsule observation deck (Third Sphere requires that ticket)
• Glass-bottomed walkway experience

What’s not included:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Food and drinks
• Souvenirs
• Live tour guide
• Audio guide

I like that you get both the “big view” component and the history component. That combination usually makes the day feel more complete than a pure observation-deck ticket.

Also, you’re getting access to key heights: the tower’s signature glass skywalk experience plus the Space Capsule (351m). Those are the parts people remember.

If you want additional thrills like the VR roller coaster or the space capsule ride, they may be available on-site, but your included ticket doesn’t list them explicitly. Keep an eye out for what’s extra so there are no surprises.

Practical tips for your day: passport, fear of heights, and families

Before you go, keep it simple:

• Bring your passport.
• Don’t bring weapons or sharp objects, and avoid explosive substances.
• If you’re afraid of heights, skip the glass walkway. The experience is labeled as not recommended for that fear, and you’ll likely enjoy the day more if you choose comfort over bravado.

Ticket details that matter for planning: QR code issues can happen. The provided guidance says an official QR may be invalid and you may need to contact the provider via WhatsApp or email to finalize entry. It also asks you to send your full name exactly as it appears on your passport and your passport number. Do that early so you don’t end up scrambling right before your time slot.

For families: one adult can be accompanied by a maximum of one child (including child tickets/free admission). So if you’re traveling with more than one kid, plan accordingly.

Good news for mobility: the experience is wheelchair accessible.

Finally, build a little buffer into your schedule. Even when queues are okay, the tower decks can still slow your movement because you’re sharing space with everyone else getting the same photos.

Should you book this Oriental Pearl Tower experience?

Book it if you want a clean, one-day Shanghai highlight that hits the essentials: Space Capsule views at 351 meters, the glass-bottom skywalk thrill, and the Shanghai History Museum to give your skyline a backstory. At around $67, the included combination makes the day feel efficient.

Skip it—or at least rethink the glass skywalk—if heights make you miserable. Also, if you’re extremely sensitive to crowds, plan to go early and expect weekend energy even before nightfall.

If you time it well, you’ll leave with two kinds of memories: the view that makes Shanghai feel huge, and the museum that explains why it became huge in the first place.

FAQ

How long is the Oriental Pearl Tower experience?

The duration is listed as 1 day.

What’s included in the $67 ticket?

It includes admission to the Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower, access to the Shanghai History Museum, entry to the Space Capsule observation deck (Third Sphere ticket required), and the glass-bottomed walkway experience.

What do I need to bring?

You should bring your passport.

Which observation decks are part of the experience?

The ticket includes access tied to the Space Capsule (Third Sphere) and includes the glass-bottomed walkway experience. The information also identifies the Second Sphere at 263 meters (Main Observation Deck) and the Third Sphere at 351 meters (Space Capsule).

Is this experience wheelchair accessible?

Yes, it is listed as wheelchair accessible.

What’s the last admission time?

The last admission is one hour before closing time at 8:30pm.

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