The
Oriental Pearl Radio and Television Tower
 The
Oriental Pearl Radio and Television Tower stands in
Pudong Park in the new and developing Lujiazui district
on the banks of the Huangpu River. The tower was once
the highest building in the city but now, although it's
spire reaches higher than the Jinmao Building, it pales
in insignificance compared to its mammoth neighbor.
The design for the Tower incorporates eleven spheres
(or "pearls") and three gigantic columns linking
the green grass below to the blue sky above. There are
six high speed passenger elevators (although there are
usually queues) inside the column taking visitors up
to the viewing platform which affords great views over
the city. One of the most impressive aspects of the
building is the lighting. A computer controlled system
alternates the light on the tower dependent on the weather
conditions.
Although the Tower has now been surpassed in terms of
height and design, many Chinese still see it as a fantastic
symbol of the new Shanghai. Photographs and Postcards
of the Building when it was first completed illustrate
the gargantuan changes that have taken place in a short
space of time here.
The jinmao
building
The incredible Jinmao Building in Pudong (Shanghai's
Wall Street) is the tallest building in China, the second
tallest in Asia, houses the tallest hotel ever built
and is currently the third tallest building in the world!
On a clear day, the Jinmao acts as a beacon for locals
and travelers who need to find their bearings, towering
above the old city skylines. It is the  center
of gravity in the area as Pagodas were in ancient China.
The building is a superb design, combining elements
of traditional Chinese architecture and a gothic influence
to produce this amazingly modern building. Architects
designed the building around the theme of the Chinese
pagoda and the number eight. The lowest segment of the
building is sixteen stories high and each succeeding
segment is 1/8th smaller than its predecessor. The Jinmao
is impressive from wherever you are in the city and
when you are right next to it, other Shanghai skyscrapers
look like lego blocks in comparison.
Inside the building there are various restaurants, food
halls and bars and Shanghai's newest and most fashionable
hotel, The Grand Hyatt. There is a viewing platform
up on the 88th floor which, if you don't suffer from
vertigo, provides unbeatable views over the city. It
is hard to imagine just how high this is, until you
actually get up there, but your ears will definitely
"pop" at least two or three times on the way
up!
The position of the building, in Shanghai's newest and
ostensibly most trendy area, and the incredible design
make the Jinmao one of the most spectacular and already
most famous sites not just in Shanghai, but throughout
China. And it is a fitting symbol of new Shanghai too:
young, vibrant and inspirational.
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