Shanghai Skyline
Shanghai Skyline by Day
If you've seen the sunrise at 5 am during your Shanghai travel, you would know what harmony between nature and architecture truly means. As the sun rises, Shanghai unfurls like a beautiful painting that progressively reveals its beauty. On clear days, Shanghai skyscrapers come into full view and stand in striking contrast to the cerulean sky, shaping the beautiful skyline in Shanghai.
Shanghai Skyline by Night
The skyline of Shanghai at night is even more charming. As night falls, the lights gradually flicker on along both sides of the Huangpu River. You can see the Oriental Pearl TV Tower glows brilliantly under the spotlight. The Shanghai Tower and the Shanghai World Financial Center stand tall and majestic side by side, creating an incredibly striking urban horizon. Besides, it must be a wonderful experience to take a Huangpu River cruise during your Shanghai city tour and soak in Shanghai's romantic illuminated skyline.
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Shanghai Skyline 1990 vs 2025
Between 1997 and 2025, Shanghai’s skyline underwent tremendous transformations, which can be seen from Pudong's changes particularly. The development of Lujiazui in Pudong started in the 1990s. Before the construction of the Shanghai Tower, the skyline of Pudong was dominated by the Oriental Pearl Tower. However, after the Shanghai Tower's completion, the skyline changed significantly, presenting a dual-peak formation.Today in 2025, Shanghai boasts numerous high-rise buildings that show a stunning skyline to global tourists. The city still has new skyscrapers under construction, like the 91st Block in the North Bund, which will further alter the skyline in Shanghai, China.
Top Places to Admire Shanghai Skyline
The skyline of Shanghai city varies with different perspectives. Below are the best places to see Shanghai’s Skyline.
1 The Bund: This is undoubtedly an excellent spot to appreciate Shanghai's skyline, where the historical buildings cluster coupled with the skyscrapers across the river.
2.North Bund Greenland: Here you can enjoy the beautiful scenery on both sides of the Huangpu River, with the uniquely shaped Silver Dome as a perfect backdrop.
3.The Living Room at Park Hyatt: It provides a stunning view of the North Bund, and is also a good place for taking pictures of Shanghai skyline.
4.Zhapu Road Bridge: Here, you can admire a picturesque view that encompasses both Lujiazui and Waibaidu Bridge, rendering it a superb location to observe the city’s skyline.
5.Waibaidu Bridge: This steel bridge affords a panoramic view of Lujiazui. Stepping onto the bridge, you’ll see the majestic skyline of Shanghai Tower and Oriental Pearl Tower.
>> Recommended Shanghai Day Tour: Modern & Traditional ShanghaiList of Top 10 Shanghai Skyscrapers
| Rank | Building Name | Height (m) | Floors | Year Completed | Landmark Significance |
| 1 | Shanghai Tower | 632 | 128 | 2014 | China's tallest building, world's highest observation deck |
| 2 | Shanghai World Financial Center | 492 | 101 | 2008 | Once the world's tallest flat-topped building |
| 3 | Oriental Pearl TV Tower | 468 | 25 | 1994 | Shanghai’s cultural landmark |
| 4 | Jin Mao Tower | 421 | 88 | 1999 | The first generation of supertall buildings in Asia |
| 5 | Shimao International Plaza | 333 | 60 | 2006 | Gateway landmark on Nanjing Road |
| 6 | Sinar Mas Center | 320 | 66 | 2017 | North Bund's new landmark, featuring Shanghai's highest helipad (319m) |
| 7 | Shanghai Wheelock Square | 297 | 58 | 2010 | Tallest building in Jing'an District of Shanghai |
| 8 | Plaza 66 | 288 | 66 | 2001 | Premier Nanjing West Road hub |
| 9 | Tomorrow Square | 285 | 60 | 2003 | One of Shanghai's tallest hotels (JW Marriott) |
| 10 | K11 | 278 | 61 | 2002 | Huaihai Road cultural landmark |
Shanghai Tower: Tallest Building in Shanghai
Shanghai Tower is the tallest building in Shanghai and Asia. It reaches an astonishing height of 632 meters. This skyscraper of Shanghai is famous for its unique design, which pioneeringly utilizes double-glazed curtain wall technology in a supertall building for the first time. It houses a skywalk for admiring Shanghai’s skyline. Besides, it features a thoughtfully designed "Sky Garden" with Oriental characteristics.
Shanghai World Financial Center: Breathtakingly High Observation Deck
Shanghai World Financial Center stands at a height of 492 meters and is the 2nd tallest building in Shanghai. Due to its unique shape with an opening at the top, it has been nicknamed the "Bottle Opener." On the 100th-floor skywalk, you can appreciate Shanghai’s skyline panorama, see the spire of the Oriental Pearl Tower eye-to-eye, and feel as if the roof of the Jin Mao Tower is beneath your feet.
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Oriental Pearl TV Tower: 5th Highest of Its Type in the World
Ticket: CNY 199 for the observation deck
Oriental Pearl TV Tower is a landmark building and a classic feature of Shanghai's skyline completed in 1994. It consists of 11 spheres of varying sizes and heights arranged in series, resembling a string of pearls descending from the sky and scattered along the banks of the Huangpu River.
Jin Mao Tower: 88-story Skyscraper in Shanghai
Jinmao Tower is a classic example of the fusion of Chinese and Western architectural cultures. As another landmark building and a well-known skyscraper in Shanghai, it has 88 floors and a total height of 420 meters, which shapes the best part of Shanghai’s skyline. Its appearance combines classical and modern elements, and it is nicknamed the "Syringe" due to its shape.
Shimao International Plaza: a Masterpiece of Shanghai Skyscrapers
Inspired by the design of theaters, Shimao International Plaza ingeniously blends fashion, avant-garde, and industrial styles, preserving the unique charm of the original architecture while infusing new vitality into the city's public life. The main tower of this skyscraper reaches a height of 333 meters, and its floor plan is shaped like an isosceles right triangle.
Sinar Mas Center: A 360-Degree View of Shanghai's Skyline
Situated in Shanghai's "Golden Triangle" area, Sinar Mas Center stands as not only a new landmark in North Bund but also the tallest building in Puxi. The office tower comprises 66 floors and rises to a height of 320 meters. You can ascend to the 320-meter-high rooftop terrace (The Stage) to take in a 360-degree panoramic view of Shanghai's skyline.
Shanghai Wheelock Square: Iconic Sustainable Architecture
Shanghai Wheelock Square is one the highest skyscrapers in Shanghai, constituting a significant part of Shanghai's stunning skyline. With a total height of 297 meters, the main tower soars 58 floors into the sky, complemented by two exquisite podium buildings. As a new benchmark for top-tier offices in Shanghai, it has become the office base for international lightweight luxury brands.
Plaza 66: Intersection of Luxury and Fashion
Plaza 66, aka Henglong Plaza, also a part of the beautiful view of Shanghai skyline, stands proudly with 66 floors reaching a total height of 288 meters. This prestigious complex houses office buildings and a shopping center, and it held the title of the tallest building in Puxi upon its completion. It has gathered numerous top global luxury brands, becoming the first high-end luxury shopping center in China.
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Tomorrow Square: Futuristic Building in Shanghai
Tomorrow Square is a prominent building in Shanghai, which rises majestically to a height of 285 meters. Its 60-story tower, crafted from two cube-shaped structures intertwined at a 45-degree angle and crowned with a sharp peak, presents an awe-inspiring skyline of Shanghai. Because of this, it can be seen in many places across the city.
K11: The Most Artistically Inclined Mall in Shanghai
Shanghai K11, towering at 278 meters, offers a stunning view of the Huangpu River and Shanghai's skyline. It cleverly retains certain architectural features on its facade in the style of Art Deco. Meanwhile, other areas of the centre have been meticulously decorated, fully integrating creativity inspired by nature and art.
