Shanghai attraction guide
Oriental Pearl Tower Tickets and Visitor Guide
东方明珠广播电视塔
Choose an Oriental Pearl Tower ticket, plan Lujiazui access, understand observation levels and combine the visit with Shanghai’s riverfront skyline.
- Allow
- 2–3 hours
- Ticket
- Paid; products vary
- Access
- Lujiazui station
- Bring
- Passport and ticket record
The Oriental Pearl Tower is both a Shanghai skyline symbol and a multi-level paid attraction. The cheapest and most expensive products are not the same visit, so the exact level and included exhibition matter more than the generic tower name.
Its Lujiazui location makes it easy to combine with the Pudong waterfront. Avoid purchasing multiple observation decks unless comparing views is a deliberate priority.
Quick answer
Compare the observation-level combinations before buying, because Oriental Pearl tickets can cover different spheres, exhibitions or experiences. Arrive with the original passport when real-name registration applies.
Photo guide
What Oriental Pearl Tower looks like
Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai's Lujiazui district (view 1)
Photo: Dmitry A. Mottl. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai's Lujiazui district (view 2)
Photo: ·˙·ChinaUli2010·.·. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai's Lujiazui district (view 3)
Photo: Ermell. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Tickets, reservations and passport checks for Oriental Pearl Tower
Shanghai’s official reservation guidance lists the Oriental Pearl among attractions that may use real-name registration when tickets are purchased. Products can include different observation levels or bundled experiences.
Check the floors, date, identity requirement and refund policy. Use the official venue channel or an authorized seller whose product description clearly matches the experience you want.
A photo of the tower or a generic ‘Oriental Pearl ticket’ does not identify the included levels. Read the product details before paying.
A practical route through Oriental Pearl Tower
- Approach from Lujiazui station and follow signs toward the tower’s visitor entrance.
- Complete passport, ticket and security checks before joining the lift sequence.
- Visit the highest included level first when crowd routing permits.
- Use lower exhibits or museum areas after the main skyline view.
- Exit toward the Pudong riverside or ferry for a ground-level skyline perspective.
How to fit Oriental Pearl Tower into a Shanghai itinerary
Pair the tower with Lujiazui, the Pudong riverside and a ferry to the Bund. Shanghai Tower offers a higher modern observation experience; Oriental Pearl offers a more iconic and layered attraction.
Visibility affects every observation deck. For sunset, build in time for queues rather than arriving at the exact light-change minute.
Keep a workable backup
- Use the free riverside if visibility makes the paid deck poor value.
- Choose one tower product and avoid buying a second under pressure.
- Move indoor Lujiazui activities ahead of the tower when queues spike.
- Keep the ferry or Bund as a flexible skyline alternative.
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Plan My Shanghai TripFrequently asked questions
Which Oriental Pearl Tower ticket should I buy?
Choose by the observation levels and experiences included, not only price. Product combinations can vary.
Do foreigners need a passport?
Real-name registration may apply, so bring the original passport used for the booking.
Oriental Pearl or Shanghai Tower?
Oriental Pearl is the more iconic multi-level attraction; Shanghai Tower offers a higher modern observation deck. Most visitors need only one paid tower.
Official information used for this guide
Operational details last checked August 14, 2026. Tickets, hours, transport, closures, and passport workflows can change; confirm final details with the venue.
