Oriental Pearl Tower

This article is about the building in Shanghai. For the building in Manila, see Pearl of the Orient Tower.
Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower
东方明珠广播电视塔

The Oriental Pearl Tower in December 2014
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 July 30, 1991 (1991-07-30)[1]
Completed 1994[2]
Height
Antenna spire 467.9 m (1,535 ft)
Top floor 350.0 m (1,148 ft)
Technical details
Floor count 14
Lifts/elevators 6
Design and construction
Architect Shanghai Modern Architectural Design Co. Ltd.
Developer Shanghai Oriental Group Co. Ltd.
References
[3][4]

The Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower (Chinese: 东方明珠塔; pinyin: Dōngfāng Míngzhūtǎ; Shanghainese: Tonfon Mintsyta, official name: 东方明珠广播电视塔) is a TV tower in Shanghai. Its location at the tip of Lujiazui in the Pudong district 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 1994.

At 468 m (1,535 feet) 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.[5] 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.

Comparison of the Oriental Pearl Tower with the world's seven tallest towers

Structural data

Spheres

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

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 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.[6]

Antenna spire

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

Chinese symbolism in the design

It 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.[7]

2010 fire

On April 13, 2010 the antenna at the top of the 468m tower caught fire at around 2:00 a.m. The fire was then put out by firefighters. Prior to the fire there was a series of thunderstorms.[8][9]

Night view
Inside the Pearl

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.beijingexplore.com/shanghai/Oriental-Pearl-TV-Tower.html
  2. ↑ SkyscraperPage - Oriental Pearl Tower
  3. ↑ "Oriental Pearl Tower". SkyscraperPage.
  4. ↑ Oriental Pearl Tower at Emporis
  5. ↑ "AAAAA Scenic Areas". China National Tourism Administration. 16 November 2008. Archived from the original on April 4, 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2011.
  6. ↑ "Oriental Pearl Tower". Sunspire Photography.
  7. ↑ Miller, JFK (January 5, 2010). "Shanghai's Pearl Tower turns 15". that's Shanghai. Urbanatomy Media. Retrieved 2011-05-29.
  8. ↑ Mop.com. "Mop.com." 上海东方明珠塔顶发射架发生火灾 无人员伤亡. Retrieved on 2010-04-13.
  9. ↑ Xinhua.com. "Xinhua.com." Shanghai's Oriental Pearl Tower catches fire, no casualties reported. Retrieved on 2010-04-13.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oriental Pearl Tower.
Preceded by
Jin Jiang Tower		 Tallest Structure in China
1994–2007 		Succeeded by
Shanghai World Financial Center
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