Shanghai Tower: which deck, which hour, which ticket

Shanghai Tower has two observation levels, and the ticket you buy decides which level you reach. The 118th floor is the main deck at 546 m. The 119th floor is a smaller level above it. Buy a timed slot for the hour before sunset, arrive 30 minutes early for security, and let the view do the rest.

Last verified: 29 October 2026 · Sources: Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, Shanghai Tower

Which deck does your ticket buy?

The 118th floor is the deck most visitors mean: a full 360-degree circuit at 546 m, with displays, a café and floor-to-ceiling glass. The 119th floor is a smaller level directly above, reached by a short stair or lift, and it feels quieter because fewer tickets include it. Both look down on the same city.

Level	What you get	Who it suits	Ticket note
118th floor	Main 360-degree deck at 546 m, displays, café	First visit, standard ticket	Included in every observation ticket
119th floor	Smaller upper level, quieter, closer to the glass	Photographers who want space	Upgrade or combo, not always open
125th–126th floor	Damper multimedia and a light show on some combos	Families, rainy afternoons	Sold as a package with the deck
120th–121st floor	Restaurants with a view, booked separately	Dinner rather than sightseeing	Not part of the observation ticket

If you want the highest view, the 118th floor already gives it, because the 119th sits only a few meters above. The real difference is crowd density. Pay for the upper level only if you plan to stay for an hour and want a corner to yourself.

The main deck is a ring, not a room. You walk a full circle past glass panels that lean outward, so the city starts at your feet. The floor is carpeted, the lighting is dim to keep reflections down, and the air is cool even in August. Expect to spend 45 to 60 minutes if you read the displays and stop for coffee.

Two small things surprise first-time visitors. The building sways slightly in strong wind, which you can feel on the upper level, and the glass carries a faint tint that shifts the color of photographs. Shoot through the open gaps where the panels meet, not straight through the glass.

When should you book, and why do sunset slots sell out?

Entry is timed, and the sunset window is the busiest. On a clear weekend the 17:00 to 18:00 slots go days ahead, and walk-up tickets for that hour are gone by noon. Book three to seven days out if your dates are fixed, and accept a morning slot if the evening is full.

Time window	Queue	Light	Verdict
09:00–11:00	Short, 10–15 min	Clear but flat, haze often burns off by 10:00	Best backup if sunset is sold out
13:00–16:00	Moderate	Harsh and hazy in summer	Skip unless the forecast is clean
One hour before sunset	Longest, 20–40 min	Warm side light, then blue hour	Book first, arrive early
After 20:00	Short again	City lights and the river	Good for night shots without the crush

Sunset time moves through the year, from about 17:00 in December to about 19:00 in June, so check the date before you pick a slot. Arrive 30 minutes before your time: security and the ticket desk sit between you and the lift.

Book through the tower’s own channel or a major Chinese travel app. The app price and the desk price are usually close, and the app lets you pick an hour rather than a day. A hotel concierge can book for you, but ask whether the fee is the ticket or a service charge.

Tickets are tied to a passport number for foreign visitors. Changing the date is possible before the slot starts; changing the name is not. If your plans are loose, buy a morning ticket and watch the forecast, then upgrade to the evening if the sky clears.

How long do security and the lift take?

Budget 15 to 30 minutes from the entrance to the deck. Bags go through a scanner, tickets are checked against your passport, and the lift queue moves in batches. The ride itself takes under a minute, and your ears may pop on the way up.

“The observatory is on the 118th floor. The world’s fastest elevator can take you to the 546-meter-high observatory where you will have a 360-degree bird-eye view of the city.”

Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, 7 May 2024

That government page is the clearest official confirmation of the height and the floor. The Shanghai scenic-spots listing also gives the address and opening hours, which change with the season.

Bring the passport you booked with, because the desk checks the number. Large bags and tripods may be refused at the lift, and there is no cloakroom at the top. Use the restroom before you go up; the deck has a café, not a luggage counter.

The route is step-free from the metro to the deck, with lifts at every level, so a wheelchair or a stroller is manageable. Staff direct you into the lift in groups of about 20, and the ride is quick enough that children rarely notice. If you feel unwell at 546 m, tell a staff member; the descent takes a minute.

How does it compare with the other towers?

Lujiazui has four tall buildings with public decks, and they sell different experiences. Shanghai Tower wins on height and speed. The Shanghai World Financial Center has the glass floor. The Oriental Pearl is older, cheaper and more theatrical. Jin Mao is the quiet tower.

Tower	Height	Deck	Why pick it
Shanghai Tower	632 m	546 m, 118th floor	Highest deck, fastest lift, newest building
Shanghai World Financial Center	492 m	474 m, 100th floor	Glass floor and the walkway over the void
Oriental Pearl Tower	468 m	263 m, glass floor	Cheapest ticket, retro shape, river views
Jin Mao Tower	420.5 m	340 m, 88th floor	Art deco interior and short queues

Pick one tower, not two. The views overlap heavily, and a second ticket costs more than a good dinner. If you want the glass floor, go to the World Financial Center; if you want the top of the skyline, stay with Shanghai Tower.

Groups with children often prefer the Oriental Pearl because the tower itself entertains, with a glass floor and a revolving feel. Couples tend to prefer the Shanghai Tower at sunset. Check opening hours before you commit, since the smaller decks close earlier than the main deck.

What can you see on a clear day, and what does haze hide?

On a clean day you see the Huangpu River bend, the Bund, the Jin Mao and World Financial Center roofs below you, and the flat delta running to the horizon. Visibility of 15 to 20 km is a good day. In summer haze, the same view shrinks to a few kilometers and the river turns pale.

The clearest months are October to December and again in early spring, especially after rain or a cold front. Check the hourly forecast and the air quality index on the morning of your visit; a rainy morning often clears by afternoon. Cloud sitting on the deck is the one condition no ticket can fix.

Photographers should plan for two looks: the warm light 40 minutes before sunset, and the blue hour 20 minutes after, when the office lights come on and the sky still holds color. The deck faces every direction, so walk the full circuit twice.

What is there at street level?

The tower sits in the middle of Lujiazui, and the elevated circular walkway links it to the other towers and the riverside. Metro Line 2 stops at Lujiazui, and Line 14 now stops nearby, so you can arrive without a taxi. The walk from the station to the tower takes about 10 minutes.

Allow an hour for the neighborhood. The riverside promenade looks back at the Bund, and the walkway gives you the classic skyline photograph without a ticket. Food courts in the surrounding malls are cheaper than the tower restaurants, and the underground mall connects most of the buildings.

Pair the tower with a Bund walk on the other bank, then take the ferry back for the view from the water. The Shanghai things-to-do guide covers the rest of the day.

The ferry from Dongchang Road pier costs a couple of yuan and crosses in about 10 minutes, which makes it the cheapest skyline cruise in the city. Walk the Bund promenade at dusk, then ride back to Lujiazui for the tower lights. The whole loop fits into an evening.

What if the sunset slot is sold out?

Plenty of alternatives still put you above the city. The Shanghai World Financial Center sells a 100th-floor deck with a glass floor, and the Oriental Pearl Tower has the cheapest ticket of the four. A rooftop bar in Lujiazui gives you the skyline without a queue, provided you buy a drink.

For the same money you can also take the ferry, walk the Bund and eat dinner with a river view. The tower is the best single viewpoint, but not the only option. On a hazy evening the cheaper options lose less, because nobody sees far anyway.

If you have more than a day in Shanghai, spend the saved ticket on the Great Wall or the Terracotta Warriors on a later leg. Both reward a full day more than a second observation deck rewards an hour.

FAQ

Is the 119th floor worth the extra cost?

Only if you want quiet. The view is nearly identical to the 118th floor, a few meters higher. Photographers who need a clean corner at sunset get value; most visitors do not.

Can I buy a ticket at the door?

Yes, outside peak evenings, but the sunset slots are usually gone. Buy online for a fixed date, and keep the passport number you used, because the desk checks it at entry.

What happens if it is cloudy?

You still go up, and you may see cloud rather than city. The deck does not refund for weather. Check the forecast first and move your slot to a clearer day if your ticket allows it.

Does the tower have a glass floor?

No. The 118th floor has glass walls, not a glass floor. For the walk-over-the-void experience, book the Shanghai World Financial Center instead, where the 100th-floor deck includes glass panels.

How do I pay for tickets and transport?

Cards and mobile payment work at the ticket desk and on the metro. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you arrive, and read the payments guide for the foreign-card setup.