Yan Zhou
Standing in the heart of Lujiazui, the Jin Mao Tower isn't just another skyscraper on the postcard skyline. For years, it was the symbol of modern Shanghai's ambition. I've been up to its observation deck multiple times, taken friends for drinks at its sky-high bars, and even gotten a bit lost in its magnificent lobby. Most guides just tell you it's 88 stories tall and has a Hyatt hotel. I'm here to tell you what it's actually like to visit, where the real value lies, and how to avoid the common pitfalls that can turn a spectacular visit into a frustrating one.
What You'll Find in This Guide
The 88th Floor Observation Deck: What You Really Get
Let's start with the main event. The observation deck occupies the entire 88th floor, at 340 meters. The elevator ride itself is an experience—smooth and incredibly fast. You feel the pressure in your ears.
The deck is indoor, wrapped in floor-to-ceiling glass. This is the first thing to understand: your photos will have a glass layer between you and the city. On sunny days, reflections can be a real challenge. I found that pressing my lens hood directly against the glass and using a higher ISO helps, but it's not the same as an open-air deck.
The view, however, is classic. You're looking right at the Pearl Tower and the Huangpu River bend. It's less about a 360-degree panorama of endless sprawl (that's the Shanghai Tower's game) and more about that iconic, concentrated view of Pudong and the Bund. They have coin-operated telescopes and some basic historical displays about the tower's construction. It's not overly interactive.
How to Get Jin Mao Tower Tickets and Save Money
You buy tickets at the ground floor lobby. The process is straightforward, but there are nuances.
Ticket Prices & Hours (As of my last check)
Observation Deck Admission: 120 RMB for adults. Children between 1m and 1.3m tall are 60 RMB. Seniors (70+) with ID get a discount, usually around 100 RMB.
Opening Hours: 8:30 AM to 9:30 PM. Last admission is at 9:00 PM.
Key Tip: They often sell combo tickets with the Shanghai History Museum (in the Pearl Tower base) or other attractions. Unless you're deeply into dioramas, I'd skip the combo. The value isn't great. Just get the single deck ticket.
Avoid the midday and early evening rush (4-7 PM). I went at 9 AM on a Tuesday and had whole window sections to myself. By 11 AM, tour groups start pouring in. If you're planning to dine at the Grand Hyatt's restaurants (like the buffet on the 56th floor), ask if they offer a package that includes observation deck access. Sometimes they do, and it can be a smarter way to spend your money.
Dining and Drinks Inside Jin Mao Tower
This is where Jin Mao shines compared to its neighbors. The tower isn't just an observation deck; it's a living building. The Grand Hyatt occupies floors 53 to 87.
For a Proper Meal: Grand Hyatt's Restaurants
Club Jin Mao (Level 86): The famous "Piano Bar." It's a circular lounge with dizzying views down the hotel's 33-story atrium. You don't need to be a hotel guest to visit. Go for afternoon tea (around 300+ RMB per set) or evening cocktails. The ambiance is the star here—art deco elegance and that vertigo-inducing look down. The drinks are pricey but standard for a five-star hotel bar.
The Grill (Level 55): Steak and seafood. Expect to pay 500+ RMB per person without drinks. The quality is reliable, the service impeccable, but it feels a bit dated. You're paying for the setting.
Grand Cafe (Level 56): The international buffet. Lunch is about 300 RMB. The spread is huge, and the view over Lujiazui is fantastic. It's a popular spot for business lunches.
For a Quick Bite or Coffee
The ground floor and basement levels have a few cafes and bakeries. Nothing exceptional, but useful if you need a coffee before heading up. There's a Starbucks in the adjacent Super Brand Mall, which is often less crowded.
Jin Mao Tower vs. Shanghai Tower & Oriental Pearl
Everyone asks this. You're in Lujiazui with three giant towers. Which one should you visit? Here’s my blunt breakdown.
| Feature | Jin Mao Tower | Shanghai Tower | Oriental Pearl TV Tower |
|---|---|---|---|
| Observation Height | 340m (88F) | 562m (118F & 119F) | 263m (Upper Sphere) |
| View Character | Classic, iconic view of the Bund and Pearl Tower. | The highest. Panoramic, vast, can see the city's edge. | Retro-futuristic. You look AT Jin Mao and Shanghai Tower. |
| Biggest Pro | Integrated luxury hotel experience (bars, dining). Architectural beauty inside and out. | Sheer height. Fastest elevators. Feels more modern. | Multiple decks, glass-bottom walkway, more "attractions." |
| Biggest Con | Indoor deck only (glass reflections). | Can be too high—the city becomes a flat map on hazy days. | Often the most crowded. Feels like a 1990s theme park. |
| Ticket Price (Adult) | ~120 RMB | ~180 RMB (for top deck) | ~220 RMB (for full package) |
If you only do one, I'd lean towards Jin Mao or Shanghai Tower. Jin Mao feels more substantial, more a part of the city's fabric. Shanghai Tower is an incredible feat of engineering. The Pearl Tower is, in my opinion, past its prime unless you have a specific nostalgia for it.
Practical Information: Location, Hours, and Transport
Address: 88 Century Avenue, Pudong, Shanghai. It's impossible to miss.
Getting There: The easiest way is the Shanghai Metro. Take Line 2 or Line 14 to Lujiazui Station. Use Exit 2 or 6. You'll walk out right underneath the shadows of the trio of towers. It's a 3-5 minute walk to Jin Mao's main entrance. Taxis and Didi (Chinese Uber) can drop you off at the porte-cochère, but traffic in Lujiazui during rush hour is a nightmare. Stick to the metro.
Security: There's a bag check and airport-style scanner at the entrance to the observation deck ticket area. It's quick.
Accessibility: The entire visitor route is accessible via elevators. The observation deck floor is flat.
Time Needed: For just the observation deck, budget 60-90 minutes. If you're having a drink or meal at the Hyatt, add 2 hours.
Your Jin Mao Tower Questions, Answered
What's the best time of day to visit for photos?Visiting the Jin Mao Tower is about appreciating a milestone in Shanghai's development. It's not the newest or the tallest anymore, but it possesses a timeless elegance and integration that its successors can't quite match. You come for a view, but you leave remembering the building itself—the art deco patterns in the steel, the calm of the hotel atrium, and the feeling of being inside a modern legend. Skip the generic tour group route. Go early, take your time, and cap it off with a cocktail looking down into its incredible core. That's the Jin Mao experience.
This is my third time visiting the Jin Mao Tower and it never gets old. I brought my mom this time and she was completely speechless when we stepped out onto the observation deck. The cloud layer was just below us, making it feel like we were floating. The staff helped us take some great family photos without being pushy. Clean restrooms, decent cafe up there too—the matcha latte was surprisingly good. 5 stars, no doubt. A must-see in Shanghai.
My wife and I booked the afternoon slot and it was surprisingly quiet—lucky us! The views are insane, especially looking down at the Pudong streets from that angle. We spent a solid hour just walking around the deck pointing out landmarks. The interactive telescopes are a nice touch. I also loved the historical photos of the construction process; it makes you appreciate the engineering. Best 120 RMB I’ve spent in Shanghai. Highly recommend going on a clear day.
Absolutely breathtaking! I went right before sunset and watched the city lights flicker on as the sky turned orange and pink. The glass floor in the skywalk? Terrifying but so cool—I sat down on it for a photo and my heart was pounding. The elevator whoosh is an experience in itself. Everything felt clean, well-organized, and the staff were friendly. If you only do one tall building in Shanghai, make it this one. 100% worth every yuan.
Good overall, but a few things kept it from being great. The elevator ride is impressively fast, and the 360-degree view from the 88th floor is pretty spectacular—especially at sunset. However, the indoor area felt crowded, and some families were letting their kids run around screaming, which killed the vibe. Also, the staff at the ticket counter seemed bored and barely acknowledged us. Worth a visit if you’re in Lujiazui, but I’d say the Shanghai Tower gives you a better bang for your buck.
I finally made it to the Jin Mao Tower observation deck, and honestly, it was a bit of a letdown. The view is nice, sure, but the windows were so smudged and reflective that I could barely see the skyline without my own reflection staring back. Plus, the queue to get up took almost 40 minutes even with a pre-booked ticket. For the price, I expected a smoother experience. The little souvenir shop was overpriced too. Not terrible, but definitely not the highlight of my Shanghai trip.
Great views and a sleek building, no doubt. The elevator doors opening to the 88th floor gave me chills. That said, the gift shop was overpriced and the café's coffee was mediocre. It's a one-and-done experience for me — glad I did it, but I wouldn't rush back. Perfectly good for tourists looking for that iconic skyline shot.
Can't recommend this enough! I went solo and had the best time just staring out at the Huangpu River for almost an hour. The observation deck is well-designed, not too cramped even with other visitors. I especially loved the little fact boards showing which buildings are which — made me feel like a local. A must-do in Shanghai!
Honestly a bit let down. I came on a hazy day and could barely see the skyline — that's not really the tower's fault, but for the ticket price (quite steep), I expected more. The interactive displays are cool, but the whole thing felt rushed and commercial. If you get clear weather, maybe it's a 5. For me, it was just okay.
Very impressive architecture and the elevator ride up is an experience in itself — ears popped like crazy! The indoor observation deck is spacious and has great photo spots. Only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is the crowd. It was packed on a Saturday afternoon, so getting a window spot took a while. Still worth it for the sweeping views.
Absolutely breathtaking! I went at sunset and the view of the Pudong skyline transitioning from golden to neon was pure magic. The glass floors in the observation deck gave me that extra adrenaline rush — definitely not for the faint of heart! Staff were super friendly and the whole experience felt well-organized. Best 360° view of Shanghai, hands down.
Came here on a rainy afternoon and honestly felt robbed. Visibility was maybe 50 meters, and they still charged full price. No warnings on the website about weather conditions. The indoor exhibits are interesting but you can’t compete with a white wall outside. Staff offered a small discount voucher for next time, but I won’t be using it.
This exceeded every expectation! We booked the combo ticket with the Shanghai Tower and Bund Observatory—best decision. The Jin Mao interior is so elegant, and the skywalk feeling is unreal. I bought a cute keychain from the shop and the lady working there was super sweet. Would come back in a heartbeat.
Went on a clear morning and the view stretched all the way to the Huangpu River bend. The glass floor section gave me butterflies—definitely not for the faint of heart! I appreciated the historical panels explaining the tower’s design. Felt a bit crowded even at 10am, but manageable. Great photo ops if you’re patient.
Honestly, I’ve seen better skylines for the money. 150 yuan just to go up one floor and stand in a packed observation deck? The windows were smudgy and reflections made photos tricky. Staff were polite but rushed. If you’re on a budget, skip it and go to the bar at the Hyatt instead—way better vibe for less.
We went up around sunset and the view was absolutely breathtaking. The elevator ride itself is an experience—my ears popped like crazy but totally worth it. The observatory is well laid out, and I loved the little telescope stations. Only complaint is the gift shop was way overpriced for what it is. Still, a must-do in Shanghai!