Lujiazui
Shanghai’s financial hub, home to numerous financial institutions and corporate headquarters
Lujiazui, located in the central part of Shanghai, is situated on the banks of the Huangpu River in the Pudong New Area of Shanghai. To the west, it is across the river from the Bund complex. It covers an area of 31.78 square kilometers. Lujiazui is the core functional area of Shanghai International Financial Center, for many multinational banks in China (including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) and East Asia headquarters location. Within Lujiazui, there are modern buildings such as the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Shanghai Center Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai Jinmao Tower and other modern buildings.
Table of Contents
Highlights of Lujiazui
The Oriental Pearl Tower (Chinese name: 东方明珠塔)
The Oriental Pearl Tower has a bunch of observation levels, including one at 350 meters and a cool transparent skywalk at 259 meters. You can enjoy awesome views of the city along the Huangpu River. The skywalk really feels like walking in the air!
Inside, there’s a rotating restaurant and a Coca-Cola-themed spot, with all kinds of food—Southeast Asian, Japanese, Chinese, and Western. There are also shops and places to eat, so you can snack and shop at the same time.
The tower has a Shanghai history exhibit and a high-altitude VR roller coaster too. So, while you’re soaking in the views, you can learn about Shanghai’s history and culture!
Jin Mao Tower (金茂大厦)
The Jin Mao Tower is a landmark in Shanghai and China because of its unique style and height. It’s not just an office and shopping center; it combines modern offices, a five-star hotel, an exhibition center, entertainment, and shops, showing off the perfect mix of traditional Chinese design and modern architecture.
The observation deck has a “Cloud Walk” experience. The walkway is 60 meters long and 1.2 meters wide, letting visitors stroll along a railing-free path in the sky for about half an hour. The observation deck is open daily from 8:30 AM to 9:30 PM. Entry is free, but there are some extra fees.
Shanghai World Financial Center (上海环球金融中心)
The Shanghai World Financial Center is a tall building at 492 meters. Its cool design and features make it a must-see spot in Shanghai, attracting tons of visitors.
The B2, B1, 2, and 3 levels have shops and restaurants. Floors 7 to 77 are offices, and 79 to 93 are hotel rooms. The observation decks are on the 94th, 97th, and 100th floors.
Shanghai Tower (上海中心)
The Shanghai Tower is a landmark building in Shanghai. It’s the tallest in China and the third tallest in the world, standing at 632 meters. There are 127 floors above ground and 5 below.
Its unique design has a “sandwich” structure that makes it look like a triangular prism. This design is not only stylish but also helps keep the building stable. The observation deck is on the 118th floor, offering a 360-degree view of the city, which is especially stunning at night. Plus, the 119th floor has a restaurant and afternoon tea spot for an extra fee.
Popular Restaurants Near Lujiazui
Enjoying authentic Shanghai cuisine during your travel in Shanghai.
Shanghai Xiao Nanguo (Zhengda Plaza Location) 上海小南国 (正大广场店)
Steamed Pork with Crab Roe
There’s a lot of crab roe, and it’s super flavorful. It sits on top of rich meat and egg custard for a great texture.
Black Truffle Shrimp
Packed with black truffle, this dish has fresh shrimp that tastes amazing with the sauce.
Black Truffle Braised Pork
This braised pork has a nice mix of fat and lean meat. It’s smooth and not greasy at all, served over a layer of fragrant sticky rice.
Signature Yellow Croaker
A huge yellow croaker! Xiao Nanguo always does it right, and the fish is really fresh thanks to their good sourcing.
Thick Soup with Hand-Made Tofu
This giant bowl of soup could easily feed two people. It’s super delicious, made with tofu and salted pork. The hand-made tofu is incredibly tender.Address:
8F01A, Zhengda Plaza, 168 Lujiazui West Road
Hours:
Monday to Sunday, 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Average Spend:
181 CNY per person (about 25 USD)
Yongfu Xiaoxian (Lujiazui Center Location) 甬府小鲜 (陆家嘴中心店)
Stir-Fried Rice Cakes with Crab
The crab meat is fresh and the shell is super soft. The more you eat, the better it gets! The rice cakes are chewy and packed with crab flavor—honestly, the rice cakes might be even better than the crab.
Fire Chicken with Huadiao Wine
Before opening the lid, they pour Huadiao wine on top and set it on fire. It doesn’t have a strong alcohol taste, but it’s still delicious. The meat is super tender, with sticky goodness that goes great with rice. The pig’s trotter is soft, and the chicken falls apart. It’s not salty, so you can really taste the ingredients.
Walnut Rice Wine
Made with red wine yeast, this rice wine has an incredibly rich flavor. It’s tangy, and the rice balls are chewy and soft. The crushed walnuts add a lovely aroma.
Handmade Spring Rolls with Yellow Croaker
The spring roll wrappers are thin and crispy, and the filling is super generous. They’re not greasy at all. Drizzle some fish sauce over them, and the flavor changes completely.
Stir-Fried Sand Onion with Shrimp Roe
Fresh and crunchy! Sand onion isn’t your regular onion. The waiter mentioned it grows in the desert. It’s a really unique dish, and I highly recommend it!
Address:
910, 9th Floor, Lujiazui Center Mall, 899 Pudong South Road
Hours:
Monday to Sunday, 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM, 4:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Average Spend:
238 CNY per person (about 34 USD)
Practical Travel Tips
- Head to the Jin Mao Tower’s 88th floor in the evening, keeping the sunset time in mind. You’ll get to enjoy the views during the day, the sunset, and the night skyline!
- If you want to see the city skyline, pay attention to the weather. The best time is after rain when it’s clear, followed by a sunny day with some clouds. A completely clear day might not show much, especially if it’s overcast.
Hours and Fees
Hours
- Oriental Pearl Tower: Open daily from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, with last entry at 8:30 PM.
- Jin Mao Tower: Open daily from 8:30 AM to 9:30 PM, with last entry at 9:00 PM.
- Shanghai World Financial Center: Open from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM.
- Shanghai Tower: Open daily from 8:30 AM to 10:00 PM, with last entry at 9:30 PM.
Admission
- Oriental Pearl Tower: 220 CNY (about $31) per person; buffet at the Joy Restaurant: 128 CNY (about $18) per person.
- Jin Mao Tower (88th floor): 120 CNY (about $17) for the observation deck, and 288 CNY (about $41) for the Cloud Walk (walking on the glass path).
- Shanghai World Financial Center: 150 CNY (about $21) for the observation deck, covering the 94th, 97th, and 100th floors.
- Shanghai Tower: 200 CNY (about $28) for adults, and 100 CNY (about $14) for children and students.
How to Get to Lujiazui
By Bus
- Multiple bus routes can take you to the Lujiazui central area, including lines 583, 774, 779, and Lujiazui Financial City Line 3.
By Subway
- Take Metro Line 2 or Line 14 to Lujiazui Station. Exit from Gate 3, and you can start exploring the three most popular skyscrapers right away.
How Visitors Rate the Lujiazui
International tourists
Local tourists from China
I wanted to catch the sunset but arrived too early. Once I went up, I looked around, and even though the weather was clear, I was surprised by the thick haze, which made visibility poor. Most of the crowd consisted of domestic and international tour groups, and I saw several come and go. As the sun set, the bright horizon changed from white to yellow, then from orange to red.
