Shanghai Tower

Tilt your head back and follow the glass upward. The tower twists as it rises, like a slow turning ribbon. The top disappears into haze and cloud. On a gray day, you may not see the very peak. This is Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in China. It climbs higher than any other in the city. It is among the tallest in the world.

The tower stands in Lujiazui, the financial district of Pudong. It reaches 632 meters into the sky. Inside are 128 floors of offices, shops, and decks. It was completed in 2015, after years of work. Among all the world's buildings, only one stands taller. It rose as the crown of Shanghai's new skyline. Its glass skin shines silver in the sun.

Notice how the whole tower seems to spin. From base to top, it turns about 120 degrees. This shape is not only for beauty. The twist helps the wind slip around the building. It cuts the force of strong gusts by nearly a quarter. That saved a great deal of steel and money. Engineers tested the shape in wind tunnels.

The tower wears two layers of glass. Think of it as a bottle inside a bottle. The inner layer holds the floors where people work. The outer layer wraps around like a clear skin. Between them lie tall open spaces, floor upon floor. These gaps hold gardens, cafes, and room to breathe. The space helps shield the floors from heat and cold.

The building is really nine smaller towers stacked up. Each block sits upon the one below. Between the blocks sit open sky gardens. Trees and plants grow there, high above the ground. Light pours in through the curving outer glass. Workers can rest among green leaves at great height. Visitors can pause and look out over the city.

To reach the top, you ride a remarkable elevator. It is among the fastest in the world. It climbs many floors in a handful of seconds. Your ears may pop from the swift rise. A small screen shows your speed and height. In moments, the street lies far below. Numbers on the screen climb in a blur.

Near the top waits an observation floor. It is one of the highest in the world. Glass walls give a view in every direction. On a clear day, the whole city lies open below. The river curls like a thread among the towers. The old Bund looks small and low across the water. Telescopes let you pick out distant landmarks.

Look straight down if you dare. The nearby towers, once giants, now seem short. The Oriental Pearl and its spheres sit below you. Cars and boats move like slow insects. Clouds sometimes drift past the windows. You stand in a world above the everyday city. The view stretches far on a clear afternoon.

High inside the tower hangs a great weight. It is a heavy mass, held by strong cables. When the wind pushes the tower, the weight swings back. This gentle motion steadies the whole building. Engineers call it a damper. Some have given it a friendlier name, the eye. The weight can swing in any direction.

The tower was built with the future in mind. Its shape and skin help keep heat in or out. Rainwater is gathered and put to use. Turbines near the top make some of its power. The sky gardens cool and clean the air inside. For its great size, it tries to waste little. Sensors track the use of light and water.

Down at street level spreads a wide base. Shops and halls fill the lower floors. The tower stands beside two other giants. Together they form a famous group of three. One is shaped like a bottle opener, the other tiered like a pagoda. Shanghai Tower is the tallest and newest of them. All three rise from the same district.

To visit the deck, buy a ticket at the base. Go on a clear, dry day for the best view. Mornings often bring cleaner air and fewer people. Sunset rewards those who time their visit well. Booking ahead can save you a long wait. Arrive with time to enjoy the climb.

Ride back down and step onto the street. Turn and look up the long glass curve once more. A hundred years ago, this bank was farmland and sheds. Now a tower turns slowly toward the clouds. The city keeps reaching higher with each passing decade. For now, this is as high as Shanghai climbs.