Day 13 - Wednesday

With only a few days left before the end of our trip - although the weather has turned and the mist and smog is returning back to coat the city we decided today would be the day to take a trip up the 2nd highest building in the world.

In the eyes of some, the building resembles a giant bottle opener.

(The three buildings in red are still to be completed!)

The skyscraper was topped out at 492.0 meters (1,614.2 ft) and became the second tallest building in the world; as well as the tallest structure on mainland China, including Hong Kong. It is currently the world's tallest completed building by roof.

The Shanghai World Financial Center is a supertall skyscraper in Shanghai. It is a mixed use skyscraper consisting of offices, hotels, observation decks, and shops on the ground floors. Park Hyatt Shanghai is the hotel containing 174 rooms and suites. On opening, this hotel became the highest in the world, surpassing the Grand Hyatt Shanghai in the neighboring Jin Mao Tower.

We were expecting a roller-coaster ride that left stomachs churning on the ground while we hurtled ever upwards, but the journey was incredibly smooth, only the sound of whistling wind and the fact that our ears popped gave away the fact we had climbed 94 floors in less than a minute.

There are 3 observation decks in Shanghai World Financial Center. The height of its lowest observation deck is 423 m (1,388 ft), on the 94th floor, the second is 439 m (1,440 ft) high, on the 97th floor, named "Observatory Bridge" and the highest is 474 m (1,555 ft) high, on the 100th floor.
The skyscraper's roof height is set at 492 m, and has temporarily claimed the highest roof in the world.

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The view looking out over the Bund and Huangpu river

The pic on the left shows you Pudong in 1990 and the pic on the right is pudong as it looks today.

Garry & Jodie larking about on the 94th floor - which can be hired out for private parties, coporate events and publicity launches - Sam briefely considering holding his 40th Birthday party here - That was until discussions turned to how much the hiring out of the room may actualy cost!!

The three main towers from ground level (l-r) Jin Mao, Bottle Opener, Oriental Pearl.

After the trip up the tower it was time for lunch - we decided to head back to Malones where we celevbrated by 30th - this is a pic of the stage that I was dragged up on to sing Happy Birthday to myself!

After I beat Sam at a couple of games of pool it was time for home, food and sleep!!

On the way to the car we were the amusement of this crowd of locals who where doing the 'crouching tiger, hidden dragon' pose.