authenticated by Guinness World Records
The Shanghai World Financial Center Observatory was authenticated by Guinness World Records on its first anniversary. It holds the record as the highest observation deck in the world. The 100th floor (478 meters) of the observatory features a special 50-meter-long glass floor. It welcomes guests from all over the world to experience the spectacular bird's-eye-view across Shanghai.It has 101 floors total and a total building area of 381,600 square meters. The inspiration for the building's basic shape comes from ancient Chinese appliances, yubi and yucong. The building adopts a sleek and realistic glass and metallic shell so visitors can enjoy the building's changing appearance depending on the weather and light. The 50-meter-diameter circular hole at the top of the building, in coordination with the design of the Oriental Pearl Television Tower from afar, creates a "moon gate" design, inspired from traditional Chinese architecture to reflect oriental culture's conception of heaven and earth.
The entrance of the observatory is in Basement 1 on the west side of the building (just opposite the Jinmao Building). Tickets are sold here and visitors can take the elevator directly to the sightseeing platform. Sky arena on F94 provides a perfect and extensive view of Shanghai along the Huangpu River. The 750-square-meter (about 897-square-yard) sightseeing hall is also suitable for exhibitions. Parapets in the window on F97 provide a place to take pictures. The open skylighted ceiling shows ingenuity in design. In good weather, it can be opened, turning the hall into an overpass in the air. The Sky Walk on F100 is a 55-meter (180-foot) corridor. While wandering on the floor made of transparent glass, you can see the top of theOriental Pearl Tower just in front and feel as if you are walking in the air above the roof of the Jinmao Building. Vehicles, pedestrians and even the whole city seem to be far away, down below.
There is also a beautiful sight of the whole city from the Park Hyatt Hotel. The hotel's lobby, with cocktail bar, is on the 87th floor, overlooking Pudong. Overlooking the entire city, the 100 Century Avenue Restaurant on the 91st floor appeals to all senses, with a perfect perspective to see the top of the near neighbor Jinmao Building, the full extent of Pudong and the Oriental Pearl Tower as well as many symbolic landmarks of Shanghai.
