Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai (must see)

The Jin Mao Tower, an iconic emblem of Shanghai's modern skyline, is a magnificent 88-story skyscraper that reaches a height of 420.5 meters (1,380 feet). Nestled in the heart of Shanghai, it comprises a diverse mix of elements including a shopping mall, premium office spaces, and the prestigious Grand Hyatt Shanghai Hotel, which occupies the 53rd to 87th floors. Remarkably, upon its completion, the Grand Hyatt Shanghai held the title of the world's highest hotel, a testament to the tower's ambitious design and engineering.

The Jin Mao Tower is a quintessential part of the Lujiazui skyline, harmoniously standing alongside other architectural giants such as the Oriental Pearl Tower, the Shanghai World Financial Center, and the Shanghai Tower. This ensemble of skyscrapers, visible from the historic Bund, symbolizes the city's rapid development and its aspirations for the future. The Jin Mao Tower held the title of China's tallest building from 1999 to 2007, before being surpassed by the Shanghai World Financial Center. In 2015, the Shanghai Tower joined them, forming the world's first trio of adjacent supertall skyscrapers, each taller and more ambitious than the last.

The architectural design of the Jin Mao Tower, crafted by the renowned Chicago-based firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), is a modern interpretation of traditional Chinese aesthetics. The building's postmodern form is inspired by the ancient tiered pagoda, featuring a series of setbacks that create a rhythmic pattern as the tower ascends towards the sky. Its design intricately weaves the number 8, a symbol of prosperity in Chinese culture, into its structural and thematic elements. The tower has 88 floors, cleverly divided into 16 segments, each decreasing in height by 1/8 relative to the 16-story base, showcasing a fusion of modern engineering and cultural tribute.

Why You Should Visit:
It is one of the more interesting buildings architecturally in the area and you can get an up-close view of it from the high-story windows.
On top of that, it is immediately surrounded by some of the tallest buildings in the world, so you get to see those up close as well.

Tip:
Make sure you go downstairs upon entering the building to reach the observation elevator but don't be too focused on the exterior views to miss the view inside down 88 floors, which is amazing!