Pearl of the Orient

Shanghai architecture

Shanghai is home to the world's second-tallest building, the Shanghai Tower, which features a spiraling design to withstand typhoon-force winds. The city is a blend of old and new, where the colonial-era architecture of the Bund overlooks the neon skyscrapers of the Lujiazui financial district.

17Landmarks
1216Oldest · Jing’an Temple
632 mTallest · Shanghai Tower
18Architects

Shanghai Tower
Oriental Pearl Tower
Jin Mao Tower

Before you go

Fly intoPudong Int'l (PVG)
Pudong is the only airport in the world connected to a city center via a commercial Maglev train, which uses magnetic levitation to 'fly' above the tracks. It serves as a massive international hub, featuring a futuristic satellite terminal that is the largest of its kind in the world.
CurrencyChinese Yuan (¥)
LanguageMandarin
While Mandarin is the official language, many locals still speak 'Shanghainese' among themselves. As a global financial center, English is the primary language for commerce and is spoken fluently in most upscale venues.
Getting aroundShanghai Maglev
The Shanghai Maglev is the world's fastest commercial train, reaching speeds of 431 km/h on its way to the airport. Shanghai's metro system is the longest in the world and uses state-of-the-art GoA4 automation on several lines. Iconic ferries cross the Huangpu River to provide a scenic link between the Bund and the Lujiazui financial district.

17 landmarks in Shanghai

Photo: Balon Greyjoy, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Shanghai Tower

501 Yincheng Middle Rd, Lujiazui, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 200120, China

Standing as the tallest building in China, the Shanghai Tower is a marvel of 21st-century engineering. Its unique twisted form is not merely for aesthetics, as it effectively reduces wind load by twenty-four percent. This structural innovation saved approximately fifty-eight million dollars in materials during its construction phase. The building features a sophisticated double-glass facade that functions like a giant thermos to naturally regulate internal temperatures. Within its spiral, it houses nine vertical zones that contain offices, retail spaces, and some of the world's highest observation decks.

Built
2015
Architect
Gensler
Style
Futurist
Height
632 m (2,073 ft)
Stories
128
Today
Office / Observation
Apple Shanghai Campus

Building 6, Block C, 88 Maji Road, Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, Pudong, Shanghai 200131, China

Apple’s primary corporate hub in China is a cutting-edge campus designed to foster high-level technical innovation. Much like the Cupertino headquarters, this facility is powered entirely by one hundred percent renewable energy. The site features lush interior gardens and extensive walking paths that provide employees with space for outdoor collaboration. The architecture emphasizes transparency through massive glass panels and fluid, interconnected indoor-outdoor workspaces. It currently houses thousands of specialized employees working across hardware engineering, software development, and localized AI research teams.

Built
2013
Architect
Internal / Foster + Partners (Consulting)
Style
Modernist / High-Tech
Height
25 m (82 ft)
Stories
6
Today
Corporate Headquarters / R&D Hub
Apple Jing’an

1699 Nanjing West Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai 200040, China

This subterranean architectural marvel is designed as a circular amphitheater that sits nestled beneath Jing’an Park. Visitors descend a grand stone staircase from a newly revitalized public plaza into a soaring, double-height 'Forum.' The most striking design element is an undulating timber ceiling that wraps gracefully around a central oculus skylight. The entire project is perfectly aligned on the central axis of the historic Jing’an Temple nearby. This alignment provides visitors with a framed, reverent view of the ancient landmark as they navigate the modern retail space.

Built
2024
Architect
Foster + Partners
Style
Parametric / Sustainable Minimalism
Height
12 m (39 ft)
Stories
2
Today
Retail Flagship / Public Plaza
Photo: This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote. Feel free to use any of my images, but please mention me as the author and, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Oriental Pearl Tower

1 Century Ave, Lujiazui, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 200120, China

This iconic radio and TV tower remains the most recognizable silhouette on the Shanghai skyline with its eleven spheres. The distinct design is inspired by a Tang Dynasty poem describing the sound of pearls falling onto a jade plate. It features three large spheres, including a revolving restaurant and a sightseeing platform with a transparent glass floor. Since its completion in 1994, it has served as a symbol of Shanghai’s rapid modernization and global economic emergence. The tower also houses the Shanghai Municipal History Museum within its base, detailing the city's evolution.

Built
1994
Architect
Jiang Huan Cheng
Style
Postmodern
Height
468 m (1,535 ft)
Stories
14
Today
Observation / Museum
Photo: xiquinhosilva, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Jin Mao Tower

88 Century Ave, Lujiazui, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 200120, China

The Jin Mao Tower is a postmodern skyscraper that masterfully draws inspiration from traditional Chinese tiered pagoda architecture. The number eight, which is widely associated with prosperity and luck in China, is central to every aspect of its design. The structure consists of eighty-eight floors and features an octagonal core supported by eight massive exterior columns. Inside, the building houses a spectacular thirty-three-story atrium that belongs to the Grand Hyatt hotel. It remains a beloved landmark that bridges the gap between ancient Chinese symbolism and modern high-rise engineering.

Built
1999
Architect
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)
Style
Neo-futurist Pagoda
Height
420 m (1,378 ft)
Stories
88
Today
Office / Hotel
Photo: Bechology, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Shanghai World Financial Center

100 Century Ave, Lujiazui, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 200120, China

Commonly known as 'The Bottle Opener,' this skyscraper is defined by the massive trapezoidal aperture at its summit. This unique hole was engineered to significantly reduce the wind pressure exerted on the building's upper reaches. Originally designed as a circle, the opening was changed to a trapezoid to avoid sensitive cultural associations. The tower features several observation decks, including the Sky Walk 100, which offers a glass-floored view of the city. It serves as a major hub for international finance, housing the offices of many global banking institutions.

Built
2008
Architect
Kohn Pedersen Fox
Style
Neo-futurist
Height
492 m (1,614 ft)
Stories
101
Today
Office / Observation
Photo: Onedesign23, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Customs House

13 The Bund (Zhongshan East 1st Rd), Huangpu District, Shanghai 200002, China

The Customs House is a historic centerpiece of The Bund, representing Shanghai’s legacy as a global trading port. Its famous clock tower, known as 'Big Ching,' was built using the same mechanical specifications as London’s Big Ben. The building's architecture is a prime example of the Neoclassical style that dominated the waterfront during the early twentieth century. It continues to function as an official customs office, maintaining its original purpose for nearly a century. The chime of its clock remains one of the most iconic sounds for residents and tourists walking along the Huangpu River.

Built
1927
Architect
Palmer & Turner
Style
Neoclassical / Greek Revival
Height
78 m (256 ft)
Stories
8
Today
Customs Office
Photo: Coolcaesar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Shanghai Grand Theatre

300 Renmin Ave, Huangpu District, Shanghai 200003, China

This striking cultural venue features a translucent glass facade that glows like a lantern in the heart of People’s Square. The building is topped with a distinctive white, concave roof designed to resemble a treasure box with its lid open. Within this 'treasure box' are three separate theaters that host the city’s highest-tier operas, ballets, and symphonies. The lobby’s grand staircase and marble finishes reflect the prestige of the international performances held here. It was one of the first major projects in Shanghai to be designed by a prominent French architectural firm.

Built
1998
Architect
Jean-Marie Charpentier
Style
Modernist
Height
40 m (131 ft)
Stories
10
Today
Theatre
Power Station of Art

678 Miaojiang Rd, Huangpu District, Shanghai 200011, China

Once a coal-fired power plant, this massive industrial site has been expertly converted into a contemporary art museum. It retains its original 165-meter-high chimney, which has been brilliantly repurposed into a giant thermometer for the city. This facility is the first state-run museum dedicated to contemporary art in mainland China. The cavernous interior spaces allow for large-scale installations that would be impossible to house in traditional galleries. It stands as a significant example of industrial heritage preservation and adaptive reuse within the urban landscape.

Built
1985
Architect
Original Design Institute / Adaptive Reuse by Zhang Bin
Style
Industrial / Contemporary
Height
165 m (541 ft)
Stories
5
Today
Art Museum
InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland

5888 Chen Hua Rd, Songjiang District, Shanghai 201619, China

This extraordinary luxury hotel is the world's first 'groundscraper,' built directly into the side of a deep, abandoned quarry. Most of the structure is situated below ground level, with sixteen of its eighteen floors descending into the pit. Two of these floors are entirely underwater, providing guests in specialized suites with views into a private aquarium. The design features a dramatic glass 'waterfall' atrium that houses the building’s elevators and central vertical circulation. It represents a pinnacle of organic modernism, blending a man-made structure with the rugged, natural walls of the quarry.

Built
2018
Architect
Atkins / JADE+QA
Style
Organic Modernism
Height
88 m (289 ft)
Stories
18
Today
Luxury Hotel
Photo: This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote. Feel free to use any of my images, but please mention me as the author and, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Wukang Mansion

1850 Wukang Rd, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200031, China

Shaped like a sharp flatiron, the Wukang Mansion is a protected historic apartment building in the former French Concession. It was designed by the prolific Hungarian-Slovak architect Laszlo Hudec, who shaped much of old Shanghai's skyline. The building features a distinctive red brick facade and elegant Art Deco balconies that attract thousands of photographers daily. It served as a residence for many of China's most famous film stars and cultural icons during the 1930s. Today, it remains a prestigious residential address and the most celebrated example of European-style urban architecture in the city.

Built
1924
Architect
Laszlo Hudec
Style
French Renaissance / Art Deco
Height
30 m (98 ft)
Stories
8
Today
Apartments / Landmark
China Art Museum

205 Shangnan Rd, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 200126, China

Originally constructed as the China Pavilion for Expo 2010, this massive structure is known as the 'Oriental Crown.' Its bold design is inspired by 'dougong,' a traditional system of interlocking wooden brackets used in ancient Chinese palaces. The building is painted in a specific shade of red used in the Forbidden City, symbolizing national pride and tradition. It was converted into a public art museum in 2012 to house a vast collection of modern and traditional Chinese art. The roof provides an expansive viewing platform that overlooks the former Expo site and the Huangpu River.

Built
2010
Architect
He Jingtang
Style
Traditionalist Modern
Height
63 m (207 ft)
Stories
7
Today
Art Museum
Photo: Legolas1024, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Fairmont Peace Hotel

20 Nanjing Rd East, Huangpu District, Shanghai 200002, China

The Fairmont Peace Hotel is the crown jewel of The Bund and a testament to Shanghai’s 'Jazz Age' glamour. Its distinctive green copper pyramidal roof has been a landmark of the waterfront since the late 1920s. The interior is a beautifully preserved time capsule featuring ornate Lalique glass, yellow marble, and intricate Art Deco plasterwork. For decades, it was considered the most luxurious hotel in Asia, hosting royalty, celebrities, and world leaders. The hotel’s legendary Old Jazz Band continues to perform nightly, maintaining a musical tradition that dates back nearly a century.

Built
1929
Architect
Palmer & Turner
Style
Art Deco
Height
77 m (253 ft)
Stories
12
Today
Luxury Hotel
1,000 Trees

600 Moganshan Rd, Putuo District, Shanghai 200060, China

Often described as the 'Hanging Gardens of Babylon' in Shanghai, this mixed-use development is a masterpiece of biophilic design. The structure is supported by hundreds of structural columns that emerge at various heights as giant concrete planters. Each of these columns is topped with living trees and shrubs, creating a mountain-like silhouette against the Suzhou Creek. This pixelated design by Thomas Heatherwick aims to integrate nature directly into the dense urban fabric of the city. The project also incorporates the historic facade of a former flour mill, blending the new mountain with industrial history.

Built
2021
Architect
Thomas Heatherwick
Style
Organic / Biophilic
Height
45 m (148 ft)
Stories
9
Today
Retail / Art Space
Photo: Legolas1024, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Jing’an Temple

1686 Nanjing West Road, Jing'an District, Shanghai 200040, China

Jing’an Temple is a shimmering golden oasis located in the center of one of Shanghai’s busiest high-tech shopping districts. While the temple’s history on this site dates back to 1216, the current structure is a faithful reconstruction in the Song Dynasty style. Its brilliant gold-plated roofs and ornate bell towers provide a striking spiritual anchor for the surrounding modern glass towers. The temple serves as the visual focus for the nearby Apple Jing’an store, creating a dialogue between the ancient and the modern. Inside, the temple houses a massive silver Buddha and a legendary bronze bell from the Ming Dynasty.

Built
1216
Architect
Unknown (Traditional Reconstruction)
Style
Traditional Chinese (Song Dynasty Style)
Height
26 m (85 ft)
Stories
3
Today
Buddhist Temple
Shanghai Museum (East)

200 Century Ave, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 200135, China

The new East Wing of the Shanghai Museum is a massive, minimalist stone monolith situated along the city’s administrative axis. Its design is intended to symbolize 'the ocean and the land' through its clean, horizontal proportions and textured granite facade. Deep horizontal incisions across the building’s exterior mimic the sedimentary layers of the earth, suggesting a connection to deep history. This facility significantly expands the museum's capacity to display its world-class collection of ancient Chinese bronzes and ceramics. The building's interior utilizes large open courtyards to bring natural light into the various gallery levels.

Built
2024
Architect
Xing Tonghe
Style
Contemporary Minimalism
Height
45 m (148 ft)
Stories
6
Today
National Museum
Photo: This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote. Feel free to use any of my images, but please mention me as the author and, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

1933 Old Millfun

10 Shajing Rd, Hongkou District, Shanghai 200080, China

Once an industrial slaughterhouse, this building has been transformed into one of the most unique creative hubs in the world. It is an architectural maze of 'air bridges,' narrow spiral staircases, and thick concrete walls designed for natural airflow. This structure is the last of its kind, showcasing a rare blend of Art Deco motifs and brutalist industrial functionality. The building was constructed using high-quality concrete imported from Great Britain during the early 1930s. Today, its hauntingly beautiful geometry attracts artists, photographers, and high-end lifestyle brands.

Built
1933
Architect
British Architects (Built by Shanghai Hongkou District)
Style
Industrial Art Deco
Height
18 m (59 ft)
Stories
5
Today
Creative Hub / Lifestyle Center