Tallest Buildings in Shanghai in 2019

Shanghai is one of the first cities in China that witnessed the skyscraper construction boom, the city had had the 420m Jin Mao Tower and 468m Oriental Pearl Tower built way back in 1990s, while the majority of the Chinese cities were having the 100-meter-tall buildings as their tallest buildings.

Shanghai skyline
Shanghai skyline

In 2008, Shanghai World Financial Center got built, at that time it was regarded as the tallest flat top building in the world. And in 2015, the Shanghai Tower was completed, the tower is currently the tallest skyscraper in the country and the second tallest in the world, only second to Burj Khalifa in Dubai.

It seems the the construction boom has temporarily come to an end as there's no serious supertall skyscraper projects proposed for the city in a long time.
As the skyscraper construction boom are taking places in many other Chinese cities like a raging fire in recent years, the number of supertall skyscrapers in those cities is growing vigorously, Shanghai is no longer the city with most skyscrapers in China as it was in the past, many cities have already got more supertall skyscrapers built than that of Shanghai and still not slowing down on the pace.
Even so, Shanghai still possesses the tallest building in Eastern Asia, and the city features the world’s most majestic supertall complex that comprised of 3 supertall skyscrapers all exceeding 400 meters, in this respect no other cities is comparable to it currently.

Additionally, Shanghai is one of a few cities on the planet that has four skyscraper-based observation decks, this can rarely be found in other cities in the world, currently only New York City has as many observation decks as in Shanghai.

There are 6 supertall skyscrapers in Shanghai as of 2019, the tallest one is Shanghai Tower, which is the second tallest building in the world. And the amount of 200-meter-plus buildings reaches about 50.

As to proposed supertalls, though no new serious proposals came out for many years, several stale proposals have never been explicitly declared off. As of 2019, there are 3 supertall skyscrapers being developed in the city.

Below are tallest buildings in Shanghai, an observation tower is also included, and all buildings are over 300 meters tall.

1. Shanghai Tower

Standard height & Total height: 632 meters

Parapet-removed height: 583 meters   Observation deck: 552 meters

Built year: 2015

Shanghai Tower
Shanghai Tower at night

Shanghai Tower is the nation’s tallest building and the second tallest building in the world, only after Burj Khalifa. The 118th floor of the tower is an observation deck, named Top of Shanghai, it's the highest accessible point in the city of Shanghai, and also one of the highest observation decks in the world.

2. Shanghai World Financial Center

Shanghai World Financial Center
Aerial closeup of Shanghai World Financial Center

Standard height: 492 meters

Total height: 494 meters 

Observation deck: 474 meters

Built year: 2008

The former tallest building in Shanghai, and used to be the world's tallest building by roof from 2008 to 2009.

An indoor observation deck is opened to public at 100th floor, right above its large wind hole near the top, there are also another two additional observation decks at 97th floor and 94th floor.

3. Oriental Pearl Tower

Standard height & Total height: 468 meters

Height without antenna: 360 meters

Observation deck: 351 meters (highest one)

Built year: 1994

Oriental Pearl Tower is a broadcasting and sightseeing tower, it's not considered a building, but as a tall structure it ranks 3rd by height in this list. The tower has multiple floors in two large spheres being occupied by observation decks.

4. Jin Mao Tower

Standard height: 420 meters   Total height: 420.5 meters

Roof height: 370 meters   Observation deck: 345 meters

Built year: 1999

Jin Mao Tower dusk view
Jin Mao Tower viewed from air

Built in 1999, the building rises 420 meters tall. Jin Mao Tower held the title of tallest building in Mainland China longer than any other skyscrapers in China. Now the building is the 3rd tallest building in Shanghai and 30th tallest building in the world.

5. Shanghai Shimao International Plaza

Standard height & Total height: 333 meters

Roof height: 250 meters

Built year: 2005

This building is located in close proximity of the People Square, which is seen as the city's center place. It is still the tallest building outside of Lujiazui area in Shanghai by architectural height.

6. Sinar Mas Center

Standard height & Total height: 319 meters

Built year: 2016

The tallest building by roof height outside of Pudong district in Shanghai, and also the latest supertall built in Shanghai.

Ongoing Projects:

After many years of lacking of new supertall proposals or no real progress occurred on those proposals, sites preparation and constructions are happening now. Below are the supertalls in Shanghai that are now being developed.

1. Xujiahui Center

Standard height: 370 meters

Estimated top out year: 2021

Xujiahui Center is not a new proposal, it was proposed in 2007, more than a decade ago, however no progress ever occur on it before 2016, when the project was put into preparation stage. Xujiahui is the name of a place in Shanghai, it's one of city's business centers. As of late 2019, the tower had been built to about 20 floors.

A render of Xujiahui Center

2. Zhenru Center

Standard height & Roof height: 305 meters

Estimated top out year: 2020

Architects: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates

This building was proposed in 2016, and the construction started at the beginning of 2017. The height was originally designed to be 330 meters. As of late 2019, the tower has surpassed 150 meters in height. The tower is located in Putuo District, which is very far from the main skyscrapers in the city center and Lujiazui areas, so it will not make significant difference on the skyline of the city.

Render of Zhenru Center

Greenland Bund Center Tower

A rendering of Huangpu Dongjiadu Tower

Standard height & Roof height: 300 meters

Estimated top out year: 2021

Previously named as Huangpu Dongjiadu Tower, the tower was announced in late 2016, it will be built on the west banks of Huangpu River, very close to the city center area. Designed to rise to a height of 300 meters, it will become the second tallest building on the west banks of the river.

As of late 2019, construction on the underground works has completed, the concrete core of the tower has surpassed ground level.

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