Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai, China

Approximately eight hundred and sixty feet into the sky, the Oriental Pearl TV Tower is the tallest TV tower in Asia and third tallest in the world. On the banks of the Huangpu River, it dominates a large portion of Shanghai"s skyline. Located across the river from the Bund, the Oriental Pearl Tower offers spectacular views of the bustling city. Nighttime is the most popular time to visit, as the lit-up Bund makes the scene even more magnificent. It is all on display from the tower"s observation deck, which also features the requisite souvenir shops and small eateries.

The Oriental Pearl TV Tower has eight globes lining vertically, made to resemble a string of pearls dropping onto a jade plate. A storied combination of the ancient beliefs of the Chinese combined with the country"s love of the ultra-modern, the Oriental Pearl Tower is a fitting metaphor for the land it overlooks. The globes themselves are mainly for sightseeing and dining - though the wealthier of travelers can also rent a place to stay for the night. Though limited to merely twenty rooms in the Oriental Pearl Broadcasting Tower, Space Hotel is an unforgettable location - approximately 500 feet in the air, the rooms are certainly not for the feint of heart. Five smaller balls between two of the large globes are where you"ll find the rooms - high in the air, the rooms take on a highly futuristic, science fiction feel. Guests can lounge upon huge sofas in the sky , overlooking the neverending movement on the streets far below.

Each ball of the Oriental Pearl Broadcasting Tower has four rooms available - one suite and three standard rooms on two levels connected by a winding stairway. The suite has a private lounge overlooking the Huangpu River. Three other rooms share two lounges facing the main section of the Bund and the city"s old districts.

Telescope rental and private elevators are all part of the package at the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. Within a minute you can move from the lower level right to your private suite. But, let"s be reasonable - not that many people are going to be staying here. You go for the views at sunset and maybe eat dinner before returning to the energetic Shanghai night. You can even stay on the observation deck as long as you want - or at least until it closes - making a hotel stay at the Oriental Pearl Broadcasting Tower a bit of overkill.

Of course, the tower is not merely a tourist attraction. The Oriental Pearl Tower services the Shanghai area with more than nine television channels and upwards of ten FM radio channels.