The New World Financial Center in Shanghai

The building to the left is the new Shanghai World Financial Center aka SWFC. The building on the right is the Jin Mao Tower, which was China's tallest building until the SWFC was completed. Work began on the SWFC in 1997, suspended mid-way due to the Asian financial crisis and then completed in 2008 making it the tallest building in China, including Hong Kong, and the 3rd tallest building in the world.

The Jin Mao currently houses the world's tallest hotel, the Grand Hyatt Shanghai situated on the 53rd to the 87th floors, however this will become the world's 2nd tallest once the new Park Hyatt Shanghai hotel in the SWFC opens.

At the very top of the SWFC is an observation deck, which opened to the public on August 30th 2008. The observation deck is on 3 levels with the highest view being at a height of 474 meters (1,555ft) above sea level.

The most striking feature on this modern, new building is the opening at the top of the building between the top 2 observation decks, designed to reduce the stress of wind pressure. This opening was originally designed to be circular because in Chinese mythology the earth is represented by a square and the sky by a circle, and the circular shape is very common in Chinese moon gates, which can often be seen in Chinese gardens. The circular design for this building however met protest from Chinese people because it too closely resembled the rising sun design on the Japanese flag, so the design was changed to make it more rectangular.

Altogether there are 3 observation decks in the Shanghai World Financial Center. The lowest one is on the 94th floor at 423 meters (1,388ft), the 2nd highest one is on the 97th floor at 439 meters (1,440ft), and the highest deck is on the 100th floor, named the Observatory Bridge and stands at 474 meters (1,555ft). The views from the Observatory Bridge are amazing:

If you're visiting Shanghai then a visit to the Shanghai World Financial Center is highly recommended. Admission opens at 8am and closes at 10pm, and you have to be out of the building by 11pm.

Ticket price depends on which floor/s you want to visit:

94th floor - RMB 100 (US$ 14.50)
94th and 97th floors - RMB 110 (US$ 16.00)
94th, 97th and 100th floors - RMB 150 (US$ 22.00)

Obviously, if you're going to go up to the 94th floor, then you may as well pay the litle bit extra to go up to the 97th as well, but in my opinion the views are so much better, and less obstructed, on the Observation Bridge on the 100th floor, so I would definitely recommend getting a ticket for all 3 floors.

There are plenty of buses that go to the SWFC, and the nearby Oriental Pearl, but the best way is to get the Metro Line No.2 to Lujiazui where there is a park that is right in between both buildings.

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