Dongfang Mingzhu and its stacked spheres above Shanghai
Published on 09/22/2026 at 16:11 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael MĂĽller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Dongfang Mingzhu rises beside the Huangpu River in Shanghai’s Pudong district, a steel and concrete tower marked by spheres arranged along a slender central structure. Completed in 1994, it reaches 468 m (1,535 ft) including its antenna, while its main body rises to about 351 m (1,152 ft).
Dongfang Mingzhu: a tower assembled from spheres
The tower’s most recognisable feature is its sequence of large and small spheres. They interrupt the vertical shaft with rounded volumes, platforms and observation spaces, creating a profile unlike the straight-sided office towers surrounding Lujiazui.
Shanghai Modern Architectural Design Co. Ltd. is associated with the design, with principal designers Jiang Huan Chen, Lin Benlin and Zhang Xiulin. principal designers The structure combines steel and concrete with broadcasting equipment, public interiors and viewing areas.
From Pudong riverbank to city skyline
Dongfang Mingzhu stands at the tip of Lujiazui, on the eastern bank of the Huangpu River. The Bund lies across the water, placing the tower opposite Shanghai’s historic waterfront buildings and giving the river a clear architectural contrast between older Puxi and high-rise Pudong.
Its construction began in 1991 and reached completion in 1994, during the period when Pudong’s skyline was taking its present form. The tower opened to visitors in 1995 and remains a broadcasting structure as well as a public complex with sightseeing, dining, exhibitions and entertainment. Lujiazui location
Broadcasting tower with public levels
Dongfang Mingzhu was built as a radio and television tower, and its communications role remains part of its identity. The public areas occupy different levels, with observation spaces, exhibitions, restaurants and city views distributed through the tower.
The 351 m space capsule is among the highest public areas, while lower levels contain additional viewing spaces and the Shanghai Urban History Development Exhibition Hall. The exhibition presents objects, models and scenes connected with Shanghai’s urban development. public levels and exhibitions
The design is also linked with the image of pearls falling onto a jade plate, an image drawn from Tang Dynasty poetry. That literary association gives the spheres a cultural reference beyond their structural role, while the tower’s height places the motif above the riverfront skyline.
Visiting Dongfang Mingzhu: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Dongfang Mingzhu is at No. 1 Century Avenue in Lujiazui, Pudong, beside the Huangpu River and opposite the Bund. Shanghai Metro Line 2 serves the Lujiazui area.
- The tower contains vertical circulation between several public levels, including observation decks and the 351 m space capsule. Visitors move through a tall interior with lifts, stairs and enclosed exhibition areas.
- The official language is Mandarin Chinese and the currency is the renminbi.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Dongfang Mingzhu on social platforms
These links open searches for Dongfang Mingzhu on each platform.Frequently asked questions about Dongfang Mingzhu
Where is Dongfang Mingzhu?
Dongfang Mingzhu stands in Lujiazui, Pudong, on the eastern bank of the Huangpu River. The Bund is across the river in Shanghai’s Puxi district.
What can visitors see inside?
Public areas include observation spaces, exhibitions, restaurants and entertainment facilities. The Shanghai Urban History Development Exhibition Hall presents material connected with the city’s changing urban landscape.
What makes the tower distinctive?
Its stacked spheres create a rounded profile within Shanghai’s high-rise skyline. The 468 m tower combines radio and television broadcasting with public spaces at several heights.
