Oriental Pearl Tower
| Oriental Pearl Tower 东方明珠塔 | |
|---|---|
 The Oriental Pearl Tower as seen across the Huangpu River | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Location | Shanghai, China |
| Coordinates | 31°14′31″N 121°29′42″E / 31.242°N 121.495°E |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 468.0 m (1,535 ft) |
| Top floor | 350.0 m (1,148 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 14 |
| Lifts/elevators | 6 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Shanghai Modern Architectural Design Co. Ltd. |
| Developer | Shanghai Oriental Group Co. Ltd. |
The Oriental Pearl Tower (Chinese: 东方明珠塔; pinyin: Dōngfāng Míngzhūtǎ, official name: 东方明珠电视塔) is a TV tower in Shanghai, China. The Oriental Pearl Tower is located at the tip of [[Lujiazui] in the Pudong district, by the side of Huangpu River, opposite of The Bund.
It was designed by Jiang Huan Cheng of the Shanghai Modern Architectural Design Co. Ltd. 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 from 1994–2007, when it was surpassed by the Shanghai World Financial Center. The Oriental Pearl Tower belongs to the World Federation of Great Towers.
On 7 July 2007, Oriental Pearl Tower was host to the Chinese Live Earth concert.
The Pearl Tower attracts over three million visitors each year.[citation needed]
Structural data
The spheres in the tower
The tower features 11 spheres, big and small. The two biggest 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 building 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, restaurants and a shopping mall. There is also a 20-room hotel called the Space Hotel between the two large spheres.
Antenna spire
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
The design of the building 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.[2]
2010 fire
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.[3][4]
Gallery
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Panoramic view of Oriental Pearl Tower -
Oriental Pearl Tower
Night view:
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Oriental Pearl at night -
Oriental Pearl and night view of Pudong -
The Oriental Pearl at night (the second tallest building is the Jin Mao Tower)
Inside the Pearl:
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Viewpoint (263 meters) -
Rotating restaurant (267 meters) -
The revolving restaurant inside the 2nd-highest sphere -
Sign at the "Space Module"
See also
- List of the world's tallest structures
- List of towers
- List of tallest freestanding structures in the world
Notes
- ^ SkyscraperPage - Oriental Pearl Tower
- ^ Miller, JFK. "Shanghai's Pearl Tower turns 15". Urbanatomy.com, January 5, 2010. Accessed March 15, 2010.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Xinhua.com. "Xinhua.com." Shanghai's Oriental Pearl Tower catches fire, no casualties reported. Retrieved on 2010-04-13.
External links
- A picture of it at dawn
- Oriental Pearl Tower photos
- The poem by Bai Juyi on which the Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower was based
- Youtube video: Roller coaster POV Shanghai Pearl TV Tower
