When built in 2008, the Shanghai World Finance Center was the tallest building in the metropolis, the 4th largest in China and the 12th largest on the planet. It has since given up the position of being the tallest skyscraper in the city to its neighboring Shanghai Tower. But SWFC still stands proud and has lived up to its name by housing many finance and management power houses under its roof. And it has still more to offer besides trade and finance with a luxury hotel within along with shopping malls and dining venues. There is a sightseeing glass deck on the 100th floor which is a true delight with its panoramic views.
Situated in the heart of bustling Pudong, it can be accessed by metro line 2 by disembarking on the Dongchang road station (exit 4) or getting off at Lujiazui subway station (exit 6). A short walk will get visitors right to the skyscraper. Multiple buses, the ferry and even the Tunnel line 3 and 6 can all point guests in the direction of the famous tower. Tickets for the observation deck are sold at the basement on the west side, close to Jinmao tower, and this is also where the direct elevators to the top are located. There is a dedicated website, according to which timings are from 11:00 to 21:00 and admission rate for adults/ elderly & students/ kids under 140cm & disabled persons are RMB120/ 80 / 60 (for 94th floor only) and RMB180/ 120/ 90 (for combined ticket for 94F, 97F and 100F). Kids under 100cm are allowed in free. Tourists need to show passports to get tickets. Best time is sunset for the golden hour experience but the day chosen is equally important. Smog, clouds and rain can really ruin the feeling of being suspended in the air from the 100th story observation platform.
The extravagant Park Hyatt hotel and many fine restaurants within are top notch stuff. The elevator ride up is a thrilling feature on its own. State of the art and capable of moving at 10 meters per second, it’ll have visitors up 94 floors and almost 1,400 feet off the ground in less than a minute. A psychedelic LED light show with graphics has also been set up for guests pleasure by famed Japanese artist.
Sights from the observation decks include famous Shanghai attractions and a birds-eye view into the passage of time in a crazy busy metropolis brimming with life. There is the winding Huangpu river with traffic of its own in the form of the many ships and ferries. Further out is the renowned Bund teeming with locals and expats along their way. Giants such as the Pearl Tower in front, the Jinmao tower at one hand and the Shanghai tower on the other become suddenly eye-level. And tourists really get to appreciate the might of China’s biggest city by how wide it spreads and how high it extends as if reaching up to the heavens themselves.