Three towers, one decision

Pudong's skyline is the postcard image of modern Shanghai, and three of its towers sell tickets to the top. Visitors ask me which one to pick, and the honest answer depends on what you want: the highest view, the best photograph, or the most interesting building.

All three are within a few minutes' walk of each other at Lujiazui, on metro line 2. You could, in theory, do all three in one day. I would not. Pick one, and spend the money on dinner instead.

Shanghai Tower: the highest

Shanghai Tower is the tallest of the three by a wide margin, at 632 meters, and one of the tallest buildings in the world. The observation deck sits on the 118th floor, more than 500 meters up.

The lift is genuinely fast, which is part of the experience. The deck wraps around the building, so you can look down on the Huangpu River, the Bund across the water, and the other two towers below you. On a clear day the sprawl goes on until it fades into haze.

The downside is the price and the queue. Tickets are the most expensive of the three, and sunset slots sell out well in advance. Book online, and be prepared for airport-style security lines.

Best for

Anyone who wants the biggest number and the widest view, and who does not mind paying for it.

Shanghai World Financial Center: the best photographs

The SWFC, sometimes called the bottle opener because of the hole at the top, has its observatory on the 100th floor, around 470 meters up. It is the middle option on price and height.

What sets it apart is the design. Part of the floor is glass, so you can stand over the city, and there are windows angled low enough to shoot down without a reflection ruining the frame. If photography is the goal, I would choose this one over the taller tower.

It also looks out toward Jin Mao and Shanghai Tower, which means you get the skyline in your shot rather than standing on it.

Best for

Photographers, and anyone who wants a slightly calmer visit than the biggest tower offers.

Jin Mao Tower: the cheapest and the most atmospheric

Jin Mao was Shanghai's tallest building back in the late 1990s, and it now looks almost modest next to its neighbours. Its Skywalk is on the 88th floor, about 340 meters up. It is the cheapest ticket and usually the shortest queue.

The interior is the reason to come. The tower was designed with art deco references and Chinese lucky numbers throughout, and the observation level opens onto the vast atrium of the Grand Hyatt hotel below, so you look down through the middle of the building. It is a strange, memorable space.

The view is lower and more partial than the other two, so come for the building rather than the panorama.

Best for

Budget travellers, and anyone who likes architecture more than altitude.

Practical tips for all three

• Buy tickets online a day ahead. Sunset time slots are the first to go, and the queues at the door are long.
• Check the weather map in the lobby. If visibility is poor, the ticket is still charged, and you will see mostly grey soup.
• Go on a weekday if you can. Weekends are crowded and slow.
• Bring your passport, since tickets are tied to ID.
• If you only want the view without the price, the free rooftop terrace at some of the Lujiazui malls gives you a partial skyline for nothing.

Whichever you choose, walk the Bund afterwards and look back across the water. The skyline is better from a distance than from inside it, and that walk is free.

Originally published on 71Asia Tours blog.