I've always been fascinated by the Oriental Pear Tower, the iconic TV tower that appears in so many advertisements of Shanghai. In many ways, this seems to typify the new, modern Shanghai; the new, modern China.
Yet, oddly, I have never been up to the top. Really very odd. This is, after all, by some counts, the third largest TV & radio tower in the world, after the ones in Toronto & Moscow. However, none so personify the modernity of a city as do The Oriental Pearl Tower. After it's completion in 1994, it has been added to the list of the World's Federation of Great Towers. This is a distinction it does deserve, I think
Double decker elevators carry people up to the top at a speed of 7 metres per second. Fast? I really cannot say. I have not done the trip.
The picture above was taken from Puxi, the west side of the river. The Oriental Pear Tower is in Pudong, the east of the river. Pudong was, in 1990, a fishing village. Now, it is the financial district of Shanghai, with the Jin Mao Tower, and the new Financial Tower that is over 101 stories high - the Bottle Opener as some people call it.
This shot above, was also taken from Pudong. This time, I took it while walking along Nanjing Dong Lu, or Nanjing East Street, which is a pedestrian street. I like the way that the Tower dominates the landscape even here. The day, however, was dull and grey like so many days can be in Shanghai. However, you have it - very Chinese signs, neo classical buildings, and the Oriental Pearl! All in one! What more can you ask for..
Now this one was taken from, I think, the 50th floor of the HSBC Tower in Pudong. So now, we are in PuDong, looking over to the West. There you have the skyline of Shanghai. The old mingles with the new in Puxi, and this gives Puxi an altogether unique charm. PuDong does not quite have the same charm as Puxi. However, PuDong is a great place to live if you have kids, and I must say that I had a blast in PuDong.
We were eating lunch when I took this shot. There is, or was, an outstanding Japanese restaurant on the 50th floor of the HSBC Tower in PuDong. Expensive, yes, but I can only recommend this very highly indeed.
And finally, one shot at night. I was walking back to the hotel after one of those corporate shindigs, and I was carrying this baby camera. I had always been curious about the Oriental Pearl Tower at night, from a photographic aspect. I have, of course, seen it at night many, many times.
Anyhow, I was there. With a camera. The rest, as they say, is a bit of dimwitted history.
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