Sunlight dapples through the trees here at Lujiazui Green. This park offers a peaceful escape from Shanghai’s bustling financial district.
Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone covers 28 square kilometers. It is often called the ‘Wall Street of China’. It is the largest financial zone in mainland China. More than 400 banks and financial institutions operate here. These include HSBC, Citibank, and Standard Chartered Bank. Over 70 international giants have headquarters here. About 5000 companies deal in trade, investment, and intermediary services. Shanghai’s stock market is the second largest in the world. It is behind only the New York Stock Exchange.
Few people know Lujiazui’s name origin. “Lu Jia Zui” means “Lu family dwelling on a mouth-shaped alluvial beach”. The name comes from Lu Shen. He was a noted scholar of the Imperial Academy in the Ming Dynasty. Lu Shen lived on this land after he retired until he died. You can still find Lu Shen’s calligraphy in the Shanghai Museum. His former residence and family cemetery are in this area.
The Oriental Pearl Tower is a landmark here. It measures 468 meters in height. It has three viewing floors. An exhibition hall shows the city’s history at the tower’s base. The lower sphere has a viewing hall at 90 meters. It provides a wonderful view of the Bund. You also see the graceful scenery along the Huangpu River. A transparent observatory sits at 259 meters. The Capsule Sightseeing Floor is at 351 meters.
The tallest flat-roof building in the world is here. It is 492 meters high with 101 stories. Sightseeing occupies floors 94 to 100. The viewing hall on the 100th floor is at 474 meters. The sightseeing bridge on the 97th floor feels like it is in the air. It gives you an illusion of wandering in the sky.
The tallest building in China is currently here. It measures 632 meters in height. The exterior spirals upward. It has a one-degree twist per story. This reduces the wind effect.
To get to Lujiazui, take metro line 2. Get off at Lujiazui Station. You can also take bus Lujiazui Financial City Line 4, 81, 85, 313, 779, 798, or 992. Get off at Lujiazui Subway Station. Other buses include Lujiazui Financial City Line 1 or 3, 583, 870, 939, 961, 985, Pudong 100, or Pudong 62. Get off at Lujiazui Loop Line Mingshang Road Station. City Sightseeing Bus Line 2 also stops here. Get off at Dongfang Mingzhu Station.
Lujiazui Green offers a free entry. It opens from 05:00 to 22:00. Recommended sightseeing time is one to two hours. Lujiazui Central Greenland’s address is No.160 Lujiazui East Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 200120, China.
Remember Lu Shen as you enjoy this green space. This was once his family’s dwelling. Now, Lujiazui Green offers a tranquil retreat in a global financial center.