Shanghai: getting high in Pudong

Observation decks are, let's face it, usually pretty underwhelming. However, if you're in Shanghai on a clear day then the observation deck at the Shanghai Tower is actually a pretty impressive option. From 118 floors up, you're able to fully appreciate the fact that the population of Shanghai is bigger than that of most countries.

We get it, you're tall

After buying tickets (the ticket office is in a small building adjacent to the tower), you head into the observation deck tourist area. There is the obligatory bit at the start where you pose for a photo against a green screen and they then photoshop you onto scenery. I believe the photograph is free. However, it may take you years to recover from the humiliation of being watched by a crowd of hundreds as you pull cheesy poses (Charlie's Angels, always a classic) egged on by two 18 year old workers who clearly would prefer to be anywhere else. The dirty secret they don't tell you is that you can actually skip this section (and this part of the queue) - there is a little walking lane that takes you behind the green screen and avoids the humiliation. But if you're there on a good hair day, maybe you'd prefer to have the free photo as a momento.

After the photo section, there is actually a pretty cool information hall which talks about the tower and other tall buildings around the world. I rushed through this part but in hindsight it was probably only slightly less interesting than the observation deck itself so I wished I took more time here.

Contemplating the insignificance of life, 118 floors up

Once through this part, there is the holding pen where you wait for the elevator straight to 118 floor. This trip is actually pretty amazing - one elevator whisks you up, at 18 metres per second, 540 metres off the ground. It takes around 1 minute. And once you exit the elevator, you're on the 118th floor. There's really not much else to note, however if you hear screams like someone is being attacked by a bear, then it is most likely one of the people who has chosen to participate in the "Virtual Reality experience"; where essentially they strap a VR headset on which I imagine either has a fake bear attacking you or shows you on a creaky glass floor 540 metres above Shanghai. Either way, hilarious to watch people go through this horror show.

All in all, on a clear day, this is a worthwhile excursion; if you go mid-week there are unlikely to be too many people. If it's cloudy or polluted, save your time and money. A final tip (which applies to all observation decks the world over): there is no point taking a bunch of photos up here; as someone who has had to sit through viewings of people's photos from observation decks, let me tell you they never look as good as you think they do. Keep the phone in your pocket and enjoy the experience

Shanghai Tower (far right)

What: Shanghai Tower observation deck （上海中心观光厅）

How much: 160RMB per ticket at time of writing

How to get there: Closest metro station is Lujiazui Station (Metro line 2); take exit 6 from Lujiazui Station (it is about a 500m walk from here)

How long: Allow 1 to 2 hours, from the time you buy your ticket