Shanghai is divided by the Huangpu River into Puxi and Pudong, with xi meaning west and dong meaning east in Mandarin. Pudong New Area, on the river's eastern bank, was once summed up by the saying, "Better a bed in Puxi than a mansion in Pudong," highlighting the stark contrast between the two areas.

Before the 1990s, this area was a suburban mix of farmland and docks, seemingly worlds apart from the bustling Bund of Puxi, despite being just across the river. However, on April 18, 1990, China announced the development and opening-up of Pudong New Area, marking the beginning of its transformative journey.

In just 30 years, Pudong has undergone a dramatic change, evolving from mudflats into China's most international financial and trade center.

Today, Pudong's GDP accounts for about one-third of Shanghai's total, making it a key driving force of economic growth. It is home to China's first foreign bank, foreign insurance company, wholly foreign-owned automobile manufacturer, and foreign-owned hospital. Global resources have flocked to this vibrant land, resulting in the Pudong miracle.

As Pudong rose, its rapidly evolving landmarks began to emerge, symbolizing not only the area but also the rapid development of China.

Whether it's skyscrapers renowned for their height and design or cultural and technological tourist destinations, the world and national records set by Pudong are not to be missed. Let's take a look.

 

World records

1. Shanghai Tower

Standing at 632 meters, Shanghai Tower is the world's third tallest building and the tallest in China. It is the first building in China to surpass a height of 600 meters. The tower's elevators reach a peak speed of 18 meters per second (about 64.8 km/h), making them among the fastest in the world.

At the top is the world's heaviest damper, weighing 1,000 metric tons — an engineering breakthrough. The art space on the 126th floor is the world's highest immersive, interactive space featuring a damper, offering light and shadow shows through high-tech methods.

Address: No 501 Middle Yincheng Road

 

2. Duoyun Bookstore

Located on the 52nd floor of Shanghai Tower, Duoyun Bookstore is the highest bookstore in the world. From its windows, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the Lujiazui skyline.

Designed by renowned architect Yu Ting, the bookstore's pure white curved bookshelves create the feeling of walking into a cave, where you can look up at the clouds and down at the books.

Address: 52nd Floor, Shanghai Tower

 

3. Shanghai Disney Resort

The Shanghai Disney Resort, which opened in 2016, is home to the tallest and largest Disney castle ever built. Crowning the Enchanted Storybook Castle is a golden peony, while another spire represents Shanghai's city flower, the magnolia — both standing as silent witnesses to every magical moment at Shanghai Disneyland. The resort features the world's first Zootopia-themed land, the first Mickey Avenue, and the first garden-themed park.

Address: No 310 Huangzhao Road

 

4. Shanghai Astronomy Museum

The Shanghai Astronomy Museum is the largest planetarium in the world, covering an area of approximately 58,600 square meters. It houses numerous meteorite collections and original works by astronomical masters like Isaac Newton, Johannes Kepler, and Galileo Galilei, along with an ultra-high-definition dome theater. The main building's spiral design mimics celestial orbits, with a circular skylight, inverted dome, and dome theater forming the iconic "three-body" structure, illustrating celestial motion.

Address: No 380 Lingang Avenue, Nanhui New Town

 

5. Shanghai L+SNOW Indoor Skiing Theme Resort

Opened in 2024, the Shanghai L+SNOW Indoor Skiing Theme Resort covers a total area of 350,000 sq m, with a ski slope with a vertical drop of nearly 60 meters and a ski track stretching nearly 1,200 meters. It has been certified by Guinness World Records as the world's largest indoor ski facility.

Address: No 1-5, Alley 2088, Hucheng Ring Road

 

6. Jinmao Tower

The Jinmao Skywalk at Jinmao Tower is the highest open-air walkway on a skyscraper in the world, stretching 60 meters long and 1.2 meters wide and located 340.6 meters above the ground. It feels like walking on clouds, overlooking the magnificent cityscape of an international metropolis.

Address: No 88 Century Avenue

 

7. Shanghai Ocean Aquarium

Covering an area of 20,500 sq m, the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium is one of the largest artificial seawater aquariums in the world and the only one with a China Zone, highlighting the aquatic life and ecology of the Yangtze River. The aquarium's underwater tunnel is one of the longest in the world, stretching 155 meters and allowing visitors to traverse different marine zones to experience the wonders of the underwater world.

Address: No 1388 Lujiazui Ring Road

 

China records

1. Oriental Pearl Tower

The Oriental Pearl Tower, one of Shanghai's most iconic landmarks, soars to a height of 468 meters and once held the title of the tallest TV tower in both China and Asia. It was also listed among the nation's first batch of national 5A-rated tourist attractions.

As a lasting symbol of Shanghai and China, the tower serves as a multifaceted complex that seamlessly integrates broadcasting, sightseeing, dining, shopping, and historical exhibitions.

Address: No 1 Century Avenue

 

2. Shanghai Wild Animal Park

As China's first national wild animal park and a top-rated tourist attraction, the park hosts over 200 species of rare wildlife from around the world, including national treasures like giant pandas and golden monkeys. Visitors can observe animals in their natural habitats and learn about wildlife conservation.

Address: No 178 Nanliu Highway

 

3. China Maritime Museum

The China Maritime Museum, the nation's first national maritime museum, combines artifact collection, academic research, public education, and exhibitions. Centered on "navigation" and "wide collections", it features six main exhibition halls, including ones themed on maritime history, maritime affairs and safety, and naval navigation. Additionally, it offers two specialized zones focused on maritime sports and recreation.

Address: No 197 Shengang Avenue

 

4. Shanghai Museum East

Shanghai Museum East, the east branch of the museum, is an open public platform that collects and displays ancient Chinese art while also focusing on education, research, cultural exchange, and leisure activities. Its flagship cultural and creative space, located on the first floor, spans nearly 1,000 sq m. This is the first of its kind in the country, offering a blend of cultural displays, preservation of intangible cultural heritage, shopping, and interactive experiences. After exploring the museum's rich exhibitions, a visit to this cultural space is a must.

Address: No 1952 Century Avenue

 

Sources: Official WeChat account of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism at "shanghaitourism", thepaper.cn, attractions mentioned above