Jin Mao Tower, Skyscraper in Lujiazui, China
The Jin Mao Tower is a skyscraper in the Lujiazui district of Shanghai that rises 421 meters with 88 floors above ground. The exterior shell consists of glass combined with stainless steel and aluminum, creating a reflective facade.
The project was approved by the State Council on 17 December 1992, construction began on 10 May 1994, and the structure was topped out on 28 August 1997. It opened on 18 March 1999 and became fully operational on 28 August 1998's dedication date, a date chosen for the number 8. At completion it was China's tallest building and the world's third tallest.
The name Jin Mao means "Golden Prosperity Building", and the design is built around the number 8, linked to prosperity in Chinese culture: 88 floors, 16 segments each one-eighth shorter than the base, and an opening date of 28 August 1998. The stepped profile recalls a tiered pagoda. On the 88th floor, the Skywalk observation deck looks down into the hotel atrium.
Visitors find office spaces in the lower floors and a hotel in the upper stories. An observation platform sits at the very top and offers views over the city and the river.
The building features a central hollow space in the hotel area that extends over multiple floors and allows a view downward. This empty space forms an unusual contrast to the dense vertical structure all around.
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