Jin Mao Tower

The Jin Mao Tower, standing tall at 420.5 meters (88 floors) in Shanghai’s Lujiazui district, is one of the city’s most iconic skyscrapers. While it’s often overshadowed by the nearby Shanghai Tower and Shanghai World Financial Center, Jin Mao has a unique thrill that sets it apart: the Skywalk—a glass-free outdoor walk around the tower's 88th floor.

Wonderful 360 degree views of Shanghai from this 420metre tower. 3-level basement has a food court, first 6 floors include a shopping mall, restaurants and night clubs. Most of the other floors are the Grand Hyatt. The 88th floor is the lookout. I suggest buying tickets in advance as long cues can occur to buy tickets on the day.

Short queue to buy a ticket. The elevator ride up is very smooth, ears pop near the top, 88 floors. Viewing deck is very large and has souvenirs shops there. Nice views on all sides and down the central shaft too. You can see the grand piano on the ground floor in the atrium.

To get to the area where the lift to the viewing platform is can be a little tricky to find first of all but then it’s straightforward. My husband and I had pre-booked the Skywalk, after some confused faces of staff who didn’t quite understand what we were showing them on the phone finally someone understood and we were give priority access in to the lift and were up within minutes. The viewing area is very spacious with lots of angles to get some decent pictures, we didn’t have the most clear day which was a shame but it was good enough. There are places to get snacks and souvenirs as well. Then came the Skywalk, the two members of staff didn’t speak any English (not their fault of course) but it made communication difficult and they already didn’t appear to be in the best of moods. The experience itself was fantastic and something I would definitely recommend to others, being able to lean over the edge, have a bit of fun and sit enjoying the view with the wind in your face was thrilling. The only down side is the camera they use to take your pictures isn’t the best quality so it looks almost like you have been photoshopped in to the view.

I had the pleasure of admiring the Jin Mao Tower with its unique facade. It adds a touch of charm to Shanghai's skyline, standing out amidst the surrounding buildings. Whether viewed from afar or up close, its architectural beauty is undeniable. Staying at both the W Hotel and EDITION Hotel suites provided me with spectacular views of this tower, enhancing my appreciation for its architectural charm.

On the day of our visit, we had to queue up for more than 3 hours to get to the lift. There was a very big crowd comprising of foreign and local visitors including groups of students. The lift to the observation deck on the 88th floor was super fast. The deck was also packed with people. It was difficult to find a spot to view and take photos of the scenery below. The glass windows were smeared with greasy finger and palm prints. Honestly, it was very uncomfortable and we left after a few minutes up there. Again, there was a long queue to take the lift down.

We went up at the Jin Mao Tower which was right beside the Shanghai Tower to see the view of the Bund and the cityscape of Shanghai. This building has a viewdeck at the topmost floor. Upon entering the lift, there is a photo booth for groups and individuals. You can claim your photos if you decide to buy the printouts on your way down at the exit. The elevator was very fast and like most viewpoint towers, it has a souviner shop and an interactive game booth on the same level. The building has a hollow core where you can see the cafe at the bottom. The view was really nice that day. The sky was a bit cloudy. There were a lot of tourists when we visited but not crowded. There were areas where you can just sit and enjoy the view. It is always nice to see the city from above.

The 3rd tallest tower in Shanghai. There is observation deck on 88 floor. Ticket price is 120 RMB for adult. Very quick elevator delivers you to the deck within several seconds. I assume that it could be some crowds during weekend. If you want to be closer to the sky, you can visit Shanghai Tower that is in 50 meters nearby.