Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower
东方明珠广播电视塔
The Oriental Pearl Tower
General information
Type	Communication, hotel, observation, restaurant
Location	Shanghai, China
Coordinates	31°14′31″N 121°29′42″E / 31.242°N 121.495°E / 31.242; 121.495Coordinates: 31°14′31″N 121°29′42″E / 31.242°N 121.495°E / 31.242; 121.495
Construction started	1990
Completed	1994[1]
Height
Antenna spire	468.0 m (1,535 ft)
Top floor	350.0 m (1,148 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	14
Elevators	6
Design and construction
Architect	Shanghai Modern Architectural Design Co. Ltd.
Developer	Shanghai Oriental Group Co. Ltd.
References
[2][3]

The Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower (Chinese: 东方明珠塔; pinyin: Dōngfāng Míngzhūtǎ, official name: 东方明珠广播电视塔) is a TV tower in Shanghai, China. Its location at the tip of Lujiazui in the Pudong district, by the side of Huangpu River, opposite of The Bund makes it a distinct landmark in the area.

It was designed by the Shanghai Modern Architectural Design Co. Ltd. Principal designers are Jiang Huan Chen, Lin Benlin and Zhang Xiulin. Construction began in 1990 and the tower was completed in 1994. At 468 m (1,535 feet) high, it was the tallest structure in China (excluding Taiwan; see Taipei 101) from 1994–2007, when it was surpassed by the Shanghai World Financial Center. It is classified as a AAAAA scenic area by the China National Tourism Administration.^[4]

On 7 July 2007, Oriental Pearl Tower was host to the Chinese Live Earth concert.

Diagram of the tallest TV-Towers

Structural data[link]

The spheres in the tower[link]

The tower features 11 spheres, big and small. The two largest spheres, along the length of the tower, have diameters of 50 m (164 ft) for the lower and 45 m (148 ft) for the upper. They are linked by three columns, each 9 m (30 ft) in diameter. The highest sphere is 14 m (46 ft) in diameter.

The entire tower is supported by three enormous columns that start underground.

Observation levels[link]

The tower has fifteen observatory levels. The highest (known as the Space Module) is at 350 m (1148 ft). The lower levels are at 263 m (863 ft) (Sightseeing Floor) and at 90 m (295 ft) (Space City). There is a revolving restaurant at the 267 m (876 ft) level. The project also contains exhibition facilities, restaurants and a shopping mall. 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 glass floor.

Antenna spire[link]

An antenna, broadcasting TV and radio programs, extends the construction by another 118 m (387 ft) to a total height of 468 metres (1,535 ft).

Chinese symbolism in the design[link]

The design of the building is said to be based on 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 (大珠小珠落玉盘/大珠小珠落玉盤/dà zhū xiǎo zhū luò yù pán). However, the designer Jiang Huancheng says that he did not have the poem in mind when designing the tower. It was the chief of the jury board who said it reminded him of that poem.^[5]

2010 fire[link]

On April 13, 2010 the antenna at the top of the 468m tower caught fire at around 2 am. The fire was then put out by firefighters. Prior to the fire there were a series of thunderstorms.^[6][7]

Gallery[link]

• 

  Panoramic view of Oriental Pearl Tower

• 

  Oriental Pearl Tower

• 

  Oriental Pearl Tower

Night view:

• 

  Oriental Pearl at night

• 

  Oriental Pearl and night view of Pudong

• Orientalpearl-c.jpg

  The Oriental Pearl at night (the second tallest building is the Jin Mao Tower)

Inside the Pearl:

• 

  Viewpoint (263 meters)

• 

  Rotating restaurant (267 meters)

• 

  The revolving restaurant inside the 2nd-highest sphere

• Sign at top of Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai.JPG

  Sign at the "Space Module"

See also[link]

	Shanghai portal
	Architecture portal

• List of the world's tallest structures
• List of towers
• List of tallest freestanding structures in the world

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Oriental Pearl Tower

• official website
• A picture of it at dawn
• Oriental Pearl Tower photos
• Youtube video: Roller coaster POV Shanghai Pearl TV Tower

v t e Skyscrapers in Shanghai over 170 metres Completed: Over 300 m Shanghai World Financial Center (492 m, 2008) Oriental Pearl Tower (468 m, 1995) Jin Mao Tower (421 m, 1998) Shimao International Plaza (333 m, 2005) 200-300 m Shanghai Wheelock Square (298 m, 2008) Plaza 66 Tower 1 (288 m, 2001) Tomorrow Square (285 m, 2003) Hong Kong New World Tower (278 m, 2002) Bocom Financial Towers (265 m, 2002) One Lujiazui (256 m, 2008) Grand Gateway Shanghai Towers (262 m, 2005) Bank of Shanghai Headquarters (252 m, 2005) Maxdo Centre (241 m, 2005) Cloud Nine (238 m, 2006) International Ocean Shipping Building (232 m, 2000) Plaza 66 Tower 2 (228 m, 2006) Oasis Skyway Garden Hotel (226 m, 2006) Bank of China Tower (226 m, 2000) Raffles City (222 m, 2003) Jasper Tower (220 m, 2008) The Regent Shanghai (218 m, 2005) Shanghai Dong Hai Plaza (217 m, 2004) World Finance Tower (212 m, 2000) King Tower (212 m, 1996) Pudong International Information Port (211 m, 2001) Sofitel Jin Jiang Oriental Pudong Hotel (207 m, 2002) Nan Zheng Building (205 m, 1998) Lippo Plaza (204 m, 1998) Shanghai Sen Mao International Building (203 m, 1998) Huaxia Financial Square Towers (202 m, 2003) Golden Bell Mansion (200 m, 1998) Radisson Hotel Shanghai New World (200 m) 170-200 m World Plaza Shanghai (199 m, 1998) Bund Center (198 m, 2002) Wenxin United Press Building (197 m, 1999) Lan Sheng Building (196 m, 1997) China Insurance Building (196 m, 1999) The Center (196 m, 2004) CITIC Square (193 m, 2000) Huaneng Union Tower (188 m, 1997) CAAC Pudong Tower (188 m, 2001) Bao'an Tower (188 m, 1997) Shanghai Futures Building (187 m, 1998) China Merchants Tower (186 m, 1995) Shanghai China Merchants Plaza Office Building (186 m, 1998) Aurora Plaza (185 m, 2003) Pudong Development Mansion (185 m, 2001) Ciro's Plaza (181 m, 2002) Union Square Towers (185 m, 2005) Pudong Shangri La Hotel Extension (180 m, 2005) Citigroup Tower (180 m, 2005) Shanghai Property Information Exchange Center (180 m, 2000) Harbour Ring Plaza (178 m, 1998) K. Wah Center (178 m, 2005) Four Seasons Hotel (172 m, 2002) Under construction: Shanghai Tower (632 m, 2014) White Magnolia Plaza (320 m, 2011) TIPS China Building (289 m, 2009) Albany Oasis Garden Office Tower (260 m, 2008) Shanghai IFC North Tower (260 m, 2010) Huamin King Tower (258 m, 2008) Shanghai IFC South Tower (250 m, 2009) X3-2 Office Development (200 m) Park Place Office Tower (188 m) Hopson International Tower (180 m, 2008) China Merchants Bank Headquarters (180 m) Shanghai Expo Guest Hotel (178 m) Buildings listed in order of height and with year of completion Building data source: Emporis See also:' List of tallest buildings in Shanghai Category:Buildings and structures in Shanghai Buildings on the Bund

Pearl Tower is a 70-floor 242 meter (794 foot) skyscraper under construction in Panama City, Panamá. Construction was first planned in 2000. Construction is set to end in December 20, 2009

See also[link]

• List of tallest buildings in Panama City
• List of tallest buildings in the world

External links[link]

• Emporis.com – Pearl Tower
• SkycraperPage.com – Pearl Tower

Coordinates: 9°00′37″N 79°27′57″W / 9.01028°N 79.46583°W / 9.01028; -79.46583

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