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How to get to the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai

Where is the Oriental Pearl Tower located in Shanghai?

Address: No. 1 Century Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 200120, China 上海市浦东新区世纪大道1号

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Location description: The Oriental Pearl Tower stands in Lujiazui, Pudong's financial district, directly opposite the historic Bund across the Huangpu River. Its pink spheres dominate the skyline at the tip of the Lujiazui peninsula. The tower sits within a pedestrian plaza surrounded by Shanghai Ocean Aquarium, Super Brand Mall, and Shanghai Tower—making it the centerpiece of Shanghai's most recognizable modern skyline.

Closest landmark: Shanghai Tower, 500m away (7-minute walk via elevated pedestrian walkway)

Getting to the Oriental Pearl Tower by public transport

Shanghai metro trains on elevated tracks in urban area.

Travel time: 15 minutes from People's Square (city center)

Closest station: Lujiazui Station (Lines 2 & 14)

Timings: First train at 5:30am; last train at 11:15pm (Line 2 eastbound)

Metro lines: Line 2, Line 14

Take Line 2 eastbound toward Pudong International Airport or Line 14 toward Guilin Road. Exit at Lujiazui Station using Exit 1. The Oriental Pearl Tower is immediately visible upon exiting—follow signs for "东方明珠" (Dongfang Mingzhu). Walk 300 meters (2-4 minutes) through the plaza toward the pink spheres. Exit 1 is the most direct route, depositing you at ground level facing the tower. Avoid Exit 6, which leads to the opposite side of the station requiring a longer walk.

Lines 2 & 14 interchange: Both lines serve Lujiazui Station with separate platforms. If transferring between lines, follow underground signage. Line 2 connects to Hongqiao Railway Station, Nanjing Road, and Pudong Airport. Line 14 connects to Century Avenue and South Shanghai Railway Station.

Service frequency: Trains run every 3-5 minutes during peak hours (7-9am, 5-7pm), every 5-8 minutes off-peak.

Buses at Jiangxi Road bus stop in Shanghai, China.

Travel time: 25 minutes from People's Square

Closest stop: Lujiazui Station bus stop (陆家嘴地铁站)

Timings: Buses run from 5:30am to 11pm (varies by route)

Bus lines: 81, 82, 85, 314, 774, 789, 795, 870, 939, 971, 993, Tourism Line 2 (旅游二号线)

Board from People's Square or Nanjing Road East stations. Routes 81 and 82 are most frequent, running every 8-10 minutes during daytime. Exit at Lujiazui Station stop, identifiable by the large metro sign and tower visibility. The stop is 200 meters from the tower entrance—walk toward the spheres through the pedestrian plaza. Bus stops have electronic displays showing next arrival times in Chinese and English.

Tourist bus: Tourism Line 2 runs a circular route connecting major Pudong attractions including the Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower, and Shanghai Science and Technology Museum. Tickets cost 2 yuan, payable via Alipay, WeChat Pay, or transit card. Announcements in English and Chinese.

Cruise ship on Huangpu River with Shanghai skyline in the background.

Travel time: 10 minutes from the Bund (5-minute crossing + 5-minute walk)

Closest pier: Dongchang Road Ferry Pier (东昌路渡口)

Timings: 7am to 10pm daily; ferries depart every 10-15 minutes

Ferry route: Bund (East Jinling Road Pier) to Pudong (Dongchang Road Pier)

Board at East Jinling Road Pier on the Bund side (accessible from Nanjing Road East Metro Station). The scenic crossing offers photo opportunities of both the historic Bund and Pudong's modern skyline. Fare is 2 yuan per person, paid via transit card, Alipay, or WeChat Pay. Cash not accepted. Upon arrival at Dongchang Road Pier, walk north along the riverside promenade for 800 meters (10-12 minutes) to reach the tower. This route provides the most photogenic approach to the Oriental Pearl Tower.

Alternative: The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel (南京东路观光隧道) runs between East Nanjing Road and Lujiazui, offering a quirky light-show capsule ride under the river. Costs 50 yuan one-way, takes 5 minutes. Exit deposits you 400 meters from the tower. The tunnel is a tourist novelty rather than practical transport—the ferry offers better value and views.

Taxi parked in front of a modern glass building in Shanghai.

Travel time: 20-40 minutes from Shanghai Hongqiao Airport; 45-60 minutes from Pudong International Airport; 10-15 minutes from the Bund (traffic dependent)

Drop-off point: Main entrance at Century Avenue (世纪大道1号正门)

Services: Official taxis (green/blue vehicles), Didi (Chinese Uber equivalent), international ride apps (Uber functionality through Didi in Shanghai)

How to book: Hail official taxis on the street (plentiful in central Shanghai), or book via Didi app (requires Chinese phone number and payment method). Hotel concierges can arrange taxi pickup with destination written in Chinese.

Tell your driver "Dongfang Mingzhu" (东方明珠) or show them the Chinese address: 浦东新区世纪大道1号. Taxi drivers may not speak English—have your destination ready in Chinese characters. From central Shanghai (People's Square), expect fares of 25-35 yuan. From Pudong Airport, fares reach 120-150 yuan. From Hongqiao Airport, expect 80-100 yuan. Add 50-100% to travel time estimates during rush hours (8-10am, 5-7pm).

Peak traffic hours: Avoid taxi travel Monday-Friday 8-10am and 5-7pm when the Yan'an Road Tunnel and other river crossings experience severe congestion. Traffic can triple journey times. Metro remains fastest during these windows.

Getting to the Oriental Pearl Tower by car

Driving route

Estimated travel time

  • 15–25 min from People’s Square
  • 35–50 min from Hongqiao Airport
  • 50–70 min from Pudong Airport
    (traffic dependent)

Distance

  • 5 km from People’s Square
  • 32 km from Hongqiao Airport
  • 40 km from Pudong Airport

Peak traffic

  • Weekdays: 8–10am, 5–7pm
  • Weekends: 11am–3pm near Lujiazui

Recommended routes

  • From West Shanghai / Hongqiao: Yan’an Elevated Rd → Yan’an Tunnel → exit Century Ave. Fastest off-peak (20–30 min); can exceed 60 min during rush hour due to tunnel congestion.
  • From Pudong Airport: S1 Yingbin Expressway → S20 Outer Ring → exit Century Ave/Lujiazui. 45–60 min off-peak; up to 90 min in peak hours or rain.
  • Scenic option (from the Bund): Yan’an Tunnel or Nanpu Bridge. Nanpu Bridge offers skyline views but adds ~10 minutes.

Navigation tip
Use Baidu Maps or Amap (高德地图). Enter destination in Chinese: 东方明珠塔. Google Maps is unreliable in China.

Parking facilities

On-site parking

  • Location: Gate 8 Underground Lot
  • Hours: 24 hours
  • Rates: ¥15/hour; ¥120 daily max
  • Note: Very limited spaces. Fills by ~10am on weekends and holidays. Not recommended as primary option.

Nearby parking options

  • Fenghe Road Underground Parking (丰和路地下停车场)
    100 m (2-min walk) · ¥15/hr · ¥100 daily max · 300+ spaces
  • Shanghai International Conference Center Parking (上海国际会议中心停车场)
    200 m (3-min walk) · ¥15/hr · ¥120 daily max · 150 spaces
  • Super Brand Mall Parking (正大广场地下停车场)
    600 m (7-min walk) · ¥10/hr first 3 hrs, then ¥5/hr · ¥80 daily max · 500+ spaces
  • IFC Mall Parking (国金中心停车场)
    700 m (9-min walk) · ¥20/hr · ¥150 daily max · 400 spaces
  • Jin Mao Tower Parking (金茂大厦停车场)
    400 m (5-min walk) · ¥15/hr · ¥100 daily max · 250 spaces

Accessibility

The Oriental Pearl Tower is wheelchair accessible with ramps at the main entrance and elevators serving all observation levels. Lujiazui Metro Station offers elevator access from all platforms to street level—follow blue accessibility signs for elevator locations. Exit 1 (the closest to the tower) has a dedicated elevator avoiding stairs entirely. The 300-meter walk from station to tower entrance follows flat, paved pathways with curb cuts.

Public transport

Metro Line 2 and Line 14 trains have designated wheelchair spaces in the first and last carriages. All Lujiazui Station elevators are wheelchair accessible. Buses numbered 81, 82, and 314 feature low-floor entrances and wheelchair ramps deployed by drivers upon request. The Dongchang Road Ferry has wheelchair boarding assistance available—inform ferry staff when purchasing tickets.

Driving & parking

Fenghe Road Underground Parking offers dedicated accessible spaces on Level B1 near the elevator bank—marked with blue signs and located closest to the tower. No additional charges for accessible parking. Gate 8 Underground Lot (tower's official parking) also reserves accessible spaces but limited to 5 spots.

Tower entrance

The main entrance features ramp access alongside stairs. Security screening accommodates wheelchairs with a separate checkpoint lane to the left of standard metal detectors. Once inside, all observation decks (263m, 259m, 351m) are reachable via elevators. The 259-meter glass floor has solid-floor alternative paths around the perimeter for wheelchairs and those uncomfortable on glass. Between the 263-meter and 259-meter levels, both stairs and an elevator exist—ask staff to direct you to the elevator if needed.

Mobility aid rentals

Shanghai International Conference Center (200m from tower) offers wheelchair rentals for 50 yuan daily deposit required. Super Brand Mall (600m away) provides free wheelchair loans at the information desk—no reservation needed, subject to availability.

Cycling or walking to the Oriental Pearl Tower

Want to explore Shanghai at your own pace?

Lujiazui's elevated pedestrian walkways and riverside promenades make walking to the Oriental Pearl Tower a scenic option if you're staying in nearby areas. A stroll from the Bund across the Dongchang Road Ferry takes just 15 minutes total, offering postcard views of both old and new Shanghai. The walk from Shanghai Tower (500m) takes 7 minutes via climate-controlled skybridge, perfect during hot summers or rainy days.

The area around the tower is highly pedestrian-friendly with wide sidewalks, clear signage in English and Chinese, and minimal street crossings thanks to elevated walkways. Walking from People's Square metro station takes approximately 35-40 minutes (3km), passing through Nanjing Road shopping district and across the Bund—a pleasant route showcasing Shanghai's architectural evolution from colonial buildings to modern skyscrapers.

Cycling: Shanghai's public bike-share systems (Meituan Bikes, Hello Bikes) have multiple docking stations around Lujiazui including one 100 meters from the tower entrance at Lujiazui Ring Road. Rent bikes via smartphone apps (Alipay integration available). Dedicated bike lanes run along Century Avenue and riverside paths. From People's Square, cycling takes 20-25 minutes via the Bund riverside path—arguably the most scenic approach to the tower. Bring locks as bike parking near the tower entrance is limited; use official docking stations to end your rental properly.

Walking tours: Join guided walking tours that combine the Oriental Pearl Tower with nearby attractions. Popular routes include the Lujiazui Architecture Walk covering the tower, Shanghai Tower, Jin Mao Tower, and SWFC "bottle opener" building (2-3 hours), and the Bund-to-Pudong Walk crossing via ferry and exploring both sides of the Huangpu River (3-4 hours).

Compare your travel options

Cost comparison: Public transport (metro, bus, ferry, bike) costs under 5 yuan regardless of starting point within central Shanghai. Taxis from central locations run 25-50 yuan. Airport taxis cost 80-150 yuan depending on which airport. Parking adds 15 yuan/hour if driving your own vehicle.

Fastest option: Metro Line 2 direct from People's Square (15 minutes) or any central station with Line 2 access. Immune to traffic, runs every 3-5 minutes peak times.

Most scenic option: Ferry crossing from the Bund (15 minutes total) offers iconic views and photo opportunities of both historic Bund architecture and Pudong's modern skyline including the tower you're about to enter.

Best for families: Metro or taxi. Metro provides air conditioning, frequent service, and direct access with minimal walking (300m from Exit 1). Taxis offer door-to-door convenience with luggage space—useful for families with young children or strollers.

Frequently asked questions about getting to the Oriental Pearl Tower

Metro Line 2 or 14 to Lujiazui Station is the fastest, most reliable option taking 15 minutes from central Shanghai. Exit 1 places you 300 meters from the tower with a direct walking path. This avoids traffic entirely and costs just 3-4 yuan. Taxis offer door-to-door convenience for groups or those with luggage but add unpredictability during rush hours when river tunnel crossings bottleneck.