Shanghai - amazing city! We can say that this is the city of Chinese records. This is where the route of the fastest train passes, which I wrote about a few months ago when I first visited Shanghai. Shanghai is also constantly fighting with Guangzhou for the palm in terms of the number of permanent residents (according to the latest data, about 30 million people live here). And, of course, this city is amazing modern architecture. And it is here that the tallest skyscraper in Asia (and the second tallest in the world) is located - the Shanghai tower, where your humble servant happily climbed to visit the highest observation deck and ride the fastest elevator in the world.

The common people nicknamed this architectural ensemble “The Corkscrew and the Opener.” They can be seen from almost any point in the city center and from some more remote areas, so it is simply impossible not to notice them. According to the original design, the hole in the “opener” should have been round, but the Chinese protested (they say it is too reminiscent of the Japanese flag), so now they have what they have. I think the Japanese architects were only too happy to change the shape of the object.

But now we’ll still talk about the “corkscrew”, which rises 632 meters above the ground. When you stand below and lift your head up, you can hardly believe that the building was built by simple modern people. Last time I also paid attention to this building (and the neighboring ones), but then I didn’t yet know that it was the tallest skyscraper in Asia, so I wasn’t very interested, and when I later found out this fact, I bit my elbows and hastily planned a new trip .

All three of Shanghai's tallest buildings are located next to each other. In addition to the Shanghai Tower, this trio includes the already mentioned “opener”, aka the Shanghai World Finance center(492 meters), as well as the Jin Mao Tower (421 meters). As a native resident of the St. Petersburg swamp, such numbers and heights make my head spin!

Naturally, I ran to the ticket office and purchased a ticket. For reference: in terms of rubles, climbing the tower will cost more than 1,500 rubles, the price includes a visit to the museum and a visit to two observation platforms: 546 meters and 552 meters above ground level.

The journey upward begins from the basement, where there is a small museum that tells the story of the world's tallest buildings, as well as the construction and features of the particular Shanghai Tower.

The tallest skyscrapers in Asia, built on this moment, as well as a future list of tallest buildings along with those currently in the project.

The tallest skyscrapers in the world. Suddenly, I saw 9 of them with my own eyes.

The exhibition, of course, is very interesting: 3D models of buildings in the form of holograms, text that appears on the glass, like in the most science-fiction films, but I so wanted to go upstairs quickly that I decided to take a closer look at the museum on the way back. Spoiler alert: the way back is not through the museum, so you won’t be able to see anything afterwards. My impatience often plays cruel tricks on me.

And so I, with a crowd of other tourists, get into the elevator. And we rise upward at a speed of 18 meters per second. It makes your ears pop up worse than on a plane! Although the elevator reaches its peak speed only on the 40th floor and maintains it until 75, then gradually slowing down, it still feels as if you are about to be launched into space. The fastest elevator in the world is impressive! My brain can’t believe that in less than a minute we find ourselves almost 550 meters above ground level, amazing!

Well, up there, you instantly stick your nose to the glass to see Shanghai in full view from the height of the flight of a very strong bird. The small river is the largest river in all of Eurasia, the same Great Yangtze River! In the right corner is a bizarre structure with two balls - the huge Shanghai TV Tower, which is one of the 5 the highest television towers peace! Well, the houses... Ordinary skyscrapers. The impressive and huge Shanghai looks almost like a toy from such a height.

Even the huge building of the 492-meter World Financial Center does not look so impressive from here.

Well, Jin Mao (which closes the top thirty tallest buildings in the world) is completely lost in the surrounding landscape.

What can we say about ordinary neighborhoods, which from here look more like a fancy children's construction set than impressive residential complexes, which you invariably have to lift your head up to look at from the ground.

Climbing more than 500 meters above the city level was my Christmas gift to myself, and I am very pleased with this gift! Shanghai Tower is stunning and a must see if you're in Shanghai!

Everyone Have a good day and conquering new and new heights!

The skyscraper is second in height only to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai (828 m). The color of the building changes depending on the time of day, and the elevators reach the top in a minute. On 120 floors there was a restaurant, a concert hall, a club, boutiques, offices and the world's tallest hotel of the Four Season chain.

The tower was recognized as the best in the “Project of the Year” category at the American Architectural Awards (AAP). Experts assessed the objects in terms of their functionality, form and technological component. Below, based on these points, we analyze the Shanghai Tower.

Form as a new word in engineering

The authors chose a complex shape for the complex in order to reduce wind loads by 21% - the result is a skyscraper that resembles a wave. It is twisted around its own axis by 120 degrees. It was this rotation that showed optimal values ​​during wind tunnel tests. In addition, this form saved about 25% of steel and reduced costs by $58 million.

Functionality as a constant of public space

The structure is supported by a double shell of glass facades that conceal the body of the building, divided into 9 vertical blocks. Each is designed around one of the "air lobbies" - spacious atriums with plants and natural light. The double facade serves as a shield against sandstorms, and the air conditioning system uses rainwater.

The blocks play the role of public spaces that offer the usual “points of attraction” for a city dweller - a museum, a cultural center, an entertainment complex, shops, and panoramic platforms. Thanks to this system, the complex operates as a vertical multifunctional center.

The authors compare the double shell with a thermos, which serves as a buffer and normalizes the microclimate inside public spaces

Technology as part of aesthetics

With a total area of ​​576 thousand square meters. m Shanghai Tower does not require high energy consumption. The building does not overheat even in summer - a third of the total area is occupied by green oases that cool the air. Heating for the lower floors is provided by special wind turbines on the façade. As a result of the implemented solutions, the carbon footprint of the skyscraper was reduced by 34,000 tons per year. Another feature of the building is high-speed elevators. Total for different levels there are 106 of them, and the three main ones rise to a height of 578 meters, more than the Burj Khalifa.

In the ranking of the 20 tallest skyscrapers in the world, Shanghai Tower ranks second. You can enlarge the diagram by clicking on the image

1.TV Tower Pearl of the East

2. Jin Mao Tower (Jinmao Dasha) – translated from Chinese as “Golden Prosperity”.

3. Skyscraper World Financial Center (Shanghai World Financial Center) popularly nicknamed “The Opener”

4. Shanghai Tower - Shanghai Tower - Shanghai Tower.

You can look at Shanghai (weather permitting) from a bird's eye view from the observation platforms in these skyscrapers, one higher than the other. Directions to all - River Tunnel, taxi or metro - to 陆家嘴 Lujiazui metro station, line No. 2 (green)

• Let's take a closer look at the observation decks in high-rises 1,2,3,4:

1. TV Tower Pearl of the East东方明珠or more complete name -东方明珠广播电视塔

It has three observation platforms: 90, 263 and 350 meters. Although the height of the tower itself (with the spire) is more significant - 468 meters. (For comparison, the Ostankino TV tower is 540 m high)
When it was built, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Shanghai was the third tallest in the world and the first in Asia. But the situation changes over time...

Visits in the evening, as they are more spectacular, are more expensive. There is a Buffet - a Chinese buffet (Revolving restaurant (not cheap) for a fee)

Downstairs in the TV tower there is a very interesting Museum historical development Shanghai. Be sure to go (INCLUDED in the price of a ticket to visit ANY of the observation decks of the tower Pearl of the East.

Tickets to any observation deck of the TV tower), restaurant and museum are sold at one ticket office (票房门票 - ticket office).

The lighting of the TV tower is controlled by a computer: it changes it depending on the weather and time of day!

There are many stalls with souvenirs, but they are more expensive even than those at the exit.

Very often in Jin Mao the number “8” or a multiple of “8” is used. This is no accident. The number “8” in China is benevolent and is associated with prosperity and wealth. Even in the address the number of “house” is made up of eights -88.

Tower height – 420.5 m

Observation platform on the 88th floor (the elevator takes you to it in 45 seconds)

On the 87th floor are the huge “Cloud Nine” windows of the five-star Grand Hyatt hotel

Order (instead of a ticket) a cocktail, coffee and admire the view of Shanghai. It is interesting to look into the giant well-chasm of the floors of this hotel:

86th floor - Restaurant “ClubJingMao” with Shanghai cuisine. Attention! Dishes are better than Cantonese cuisine (at the restaurant on the 55th floor) Expect about $40 per person.

55th floor - delicious Cantonese restaurant (Kantonese). Attention! The restaurant is quite expensive for China (also about $40 per person), and there is also a bar on the same floor - “CloudBar”. You can save money.

Of course, these restaurants are attractive with the view from the windows. But tables near the windows are in great demand. So a couple of days before your visit, make sure to reserve a table near the window.

The luxury hotel Grand Hyatt Shanghai was the tallest hotel in the world for a very short time: until another, taller one was built nearby tall skyscraper- "Opener" with its own hotel - Park Hyatt (more on them later)

This one is five star. Occupies floors 54 to 87 in the Jin Mao skyscraper.

The hotel lobby is on the 54th floor, and you can choose a room on any of the 33 floors located above. Prices for a double room start from 2500 yuan.

Address: Jinmao Tower, ShijiDadao, 88

(translated by Shiji Dadao 世纪大道)

The name of the street translates as “Prospect of the Century”

The Jin Mao Skyscraper was the tallest building in Shanghai until the Shanghai World Financial Center skyscraper was built nearby.

3. Skyscraper World Financial Center (Shanghai World Financial Center) 上海环球金融中心 Popularly nicknamed the “Opener” Tower of Shanghai

Height - 492 m - 101 floors.

How the customers wanted the building to be as tall as possible. At their request, the height during construction was increased by 32 meters (initially it was planned to be 460 m). They also asked to add a spire for higher growth, but here the architect and developer categorically said “no!” It will be unnecessary"

There were problems of a different kind with the shape of the hole (at the top to reduce air resistance). It was supposed to be round with a diameter of 46 m. ​​But the Chinese, led by the mayor of the city, suspected that it looked like the sun on the Japanese flag. But it was built by a Japanese company, even though the designer was an American “Oh, cunning ones!” The Chinese probably thought, “They are dragging their flag through!” This won’t happen!” And they categorically opposed the round one. To which they were answered something like this: “God be with you!” And they replaced the hole with a trapezoidal one. “It’s easier for us builders and, by the way, it will cost you less. And your Chinese soul is calmer.

Finally, in 2008, the skyscraper was built.

The tallest Observation deck– on the 100th floor – almost at the very top - 472 meters , from where the panorama of Shanghai is simply amazing. The second is the 97th floor. You can enter the site once with your ticket.

Luxury hotel Park Hyatt Occupies floors from 79 to 93 for rooms. The price for a double room starts from 3600 yuan.

If you are not afraid of heights (and prices too) - admire the view of Shanghai in luxury all day long. Comfort is created here at the level upper class and various “interesting things” such as self-cleaning mirrors in the bathroom with a built-in TV screen.

Address: ShijiDadao, 100 (Shiji Dadao Lane 世纪大道).

Now Jin Mao can be looked down upon. Which is what we do)

4. 2014 gives the tallest skyscraper. Shanghai Tower - Shanghai Tower - Shanghai Tower. An idea is a symbol of a rational future.

Height – 632 m

There: a shopping center, nine high-rise gardens, observation decks, business centers, restaurants and cafes.

It is planned that high-rise gardens located in this building will prevent excessive heating and cooling of the building, improve air quality, and special devices will collect rainwater, which will then be used for wind turbines, air conditioning and heating the air inside the building. It will be a whole city...

Reference: So far the tallest skyscraper in the world - Burj Khalifa - was built in Dubai in 2010 (United United Arab Emirates) . Height with spire 829.8 m, number of floors 163.

The Arab Emirates do not want to give the palm to anyone. They say they want to build even higher. How will this “race” of skyscrapers end?

Well, if you want to go further, choose the route, it is entertaining and interesting.

The magnificent Shanghai Tower was completed in Shanghai. They haven't opened it yet, but it looks like they should be any day now. This is the most beautiful skyscraper I have ever seen. A magnificent, elegant building with a height of 632 meters.

01. The Shanghai Tower was built according to the design of the American architectural bureau Gensler.

02. Construction began in 2008 and ended in 2015. According to the original design, the skyscraper was supposed to be 580 meters high, but later the tower was increased to 632 meters. It has 121 floors. By the way, despite the fact that construction has been completed, the tower has not yet been opened; final preparations are underway.

03. The tower is located in the center of Shanghai's financial zone, which is called Lujiazui. The skyscraper houses office space, entertainment and shopping centers, luxury hotel and cultural spaces. The tower also has underground floors where there is parking and exits to metro stations.

04. Shanghai Tower is the second most tall buildings peace. Only the Dubai Tower is taller; it rises 828 meters above the ground.

05. Chinese scientists opposed the construction of the tower, fearing that a large number of skyscrapers on the river bank will lead to subsidence of the soil. “The problem of flooding has always been one of the most pressing for Shanghai. Today, when the city’s building density is close to a critical level, we cannot exclude the possibility that the land on which the city is built will subside and Shanghai will be under water,” said oceanology professor Wang Pingxian in 2008. But so far nothing terrible has happened.

In 2014, Vitaly Raskalov raskalov_vit and Vadim Makhorov dedmaxopka snuck onto the construction site of the Shanghai Tower and climbed onto a construction crane. They made a video about their climb to a height of 650 meters, which at one time caused a lot of noise.

Such views can be seen from the height of a skyscraper. This is the Jin Mao Tower (left) and the Shanghai World Financial Center (right).


Photo by Vadim Makhorov

This is what it looks like in cloudy weather.


Photo by Vitaly Raskalov

06. Shanghai Tower consists of nine cylindrical sections stacked on top of each other. The entire skyscraper has double walls, in the space between which atriums are located at the level of the section joints.

07. Flowers and trees are planted in each atrium.

The empty space between the walls of a skyscraper keeps the interior cool in summer and warm in winter. The walls themselves are transparent, due to this daylight penetrates the building, and people save on lighting. The only problem is that there will be no normal view from the window. Because of outer shell you won't see anything other than the structure.


Photo by Gensler

08. The twisted design of the tower neutralizes the force of winds and allows the building to withstand gusts of up to 51 m/s (this is a hurricane wind).

09. The skyscraper has the fastest elevators in the world, the cabins for which were designed by Mitsubishi designers. Thanks to technologies developed specifically for the Shanghai Tower, they rise at a speed of 64 km/h.


Photo by Gensler

10. A spiral gutter that runs the entire height of the building collects rainwater. It is used for heating and air conditioning systems.


Photo by Gensler

11. At the base of the tower there is a podium platform in which shops and public areas are located.


Photo by Gensler

12. The tower looks very cool, especially from the old areas.

13. In the meantime, until the Shanghai Tower is opened, you can climb the neighboring skyscraper - the Shanghai Financial Center, whose height is 492 meters. I already wrote that there is an observation deck at the top, where you can go up if you have a lot of money for a ticket. If you don’t have money, but want to look at the city, you can go up to the lobby of the Hyatt hotel, which is located on the 87th floor. Go to the hotel entrance. It is located around the corner, to the right of the entrance to the observation deck. There you go up to the 87th floor in the hotel lobby and admire the views. You can drink coffee with a view of the city. Great place, I recommend it.

14. View from the 87th floor

15. Not the best, but it'll do)

16. And these are the views from the 81st floor, from my room.

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Vitaly Raskalov writes: “Hello everyone! I want to break up the two-month lull in this live journal. A few months ago, dedmaxopka and I planned a trip to major cities China, from Hong Kong to Shanghai. The main purpose of our trip was the tallest construction site in the world, the Shanghai Tower, which is currently under construction; at the moment its height, together with the crane boom, reaches just over 650 meters, which makes the tower the second tallest structure in the world, after the Burj Khalifa in the UAE.

Knowing about the very strict laws in China, we carefully prepared and chose suitable date, Chinese New Year. During the time when security was less vigilant, workers were absent and the cranes did not work. We made our way to the crane around midnight, climbed 120 floors on foot for almost 2 hours, and slept at the construction site for almost 18 hours waiting for good weather. You can see what came out of this in a new video.”

(Total 13 photos + 1 video)

1. Low clouds begin to gather over the city.

2. JinMao Tower and Shanghai Financial Center, popularly known as the “Opener”.

3. By dawn, the clouds became even denser, and the city was completely covered.

4. For comparison, the left tower has a height of 421 meters, and the right one is 490.

5. One of the main goals of climbing the tower was to shoot a video, since there was low cloudiness in the city, it was decided to sit on the top floors of the construction site and wait it out.

6. An hour before dawn, the clouds parted and we climbed up.

8. 650 meters.