Shanghai World Financial Center

The Shanghai World Financial Center, at 100 Century Avenue in Lujiazui, is a 492-metre tower with 101 floors. It is known locally as the “bottle opener” because of the trapezoid-shaped opening near its top, and it is best seen from the street rather than from inside, as its observation decks have been closed since 2023.

Construction began in 1997 and halted once the foundations were finished, because of the Asian financial crisis and later design changes by the developer, Mori Building. The planned height was raised from 460 to 492 metres. Work resumed on 16 November, but the two Wikipedia articles disagree on the year, giving 2003 and 2005. The tower reached full height on 14 September 2007, opened on 28 August 2008, and its observation floors opened to the public two days later.

Kohn Pedersen Fox, led by William Pedersen, designed the building. The top opening was the subject of a redesign. The original scheme had a circular hole about 46 metres across. After objections that it resembled the rising-sun flag, the architects submitted a trapezoid alternative on 18 October 2005, and that replaced the circle.

The three observation decks were on the 94th floor at 423 metres, the 97th at 439 metres and the 100th at 474 metres. They closed in 2023. Chinese Wikipedia describes a renovation closure starting 1 January 2023, while English Wikipedia calls it permanent. Since the sources differ, check the tower’s official site for the current position.