SW G-013 The Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower (东方明珠广播电视塔), Shanghai, China

The Oriental Pearl Radio & TV Tower (东方明珠广播电视塔) is a TV tower in Shanghai, China. It is located in the Pudong district by the side of Huangpu River, opposite The Bund.  The tower is a distinct landmark in the area.

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.

The tower features 11 (big and small) spheres. 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 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). The upper observation platform has an outside area with a glass floor. There is a revolving restaurant at the 267 m (876 ft) level. The Oriental Pearl Tower 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 Tower is said to be based on a verse of the Tang Dynasty poem ‘Pipa Song’ by Bai Juyi (白居易) 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).

I received this very nice postcard from Wen Jing Gao (1 April 2014) Swap-bot.