Jin Moa Tower and Shanghai World Finance Building behind Photo: Beltzner
One of the first things we always do when checking out the sights in a new and buzzing metropolis is to head for the bar or restaurant with the best view of the city.
In Shanghai’s case the prize goes to Cloud 9 at the very top of the imposing Jin Mao Tower which with its 421 metres until recently was the tallest tower in China (it has recently been surpassed by the neighbouring Shanghai World Finance Building at 490 metres, but the old champion is stubbornly blocking the newcomer’s view).
Copyright: Aske Munck
The bar is the crown jewel of the Grand Hyatt Hotel that occupies the 24 topmost floors, and by going to the bar on the 87th floor instead of the ridiculously expensive observation deck one the floor above you can spend your entrance fee on a drink and sit comfortably down while enjoying the view for free.
Four different elevators whisk us up to the 87th, where two waiters greet us and lead us to a table right next to the window with a fantastic view over the Bund, the Huangpu River front and Pudong.
Copyright: Aske Munck
We browse through the menu which from a western point of view is very reasonable. 65 yuan for a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon from the French wine king Georges Duboeuf is hardly expensive when it comes with a huge bowl of delicious nuts and a truly jaw-dropping view.
From our table we can follow Shanghai’s almost insanely rapid expansion. Real time. All around the tower construction workers are toiling around the clock to further enlarge the already unbelievably huge forest of skyscrapers that has become a Shanghai trademark.
Copyright: Aske Munck
And when the sun begins to set there’s a spectacular firework of white flashes from the welders’ blinding glares from the adjacent tower scaffolds, which look almost like shooting stars on the darkening horizon.
Oscar Wilde once said: "We’re all in the gutter, but some of us are gazing at the stars”. Not true, Oscar. At Cloud 9 you are amongst the stars and looking at them as well.
CLOUD 9, Grand Hyatt Shanghai; Jin Mao Tower, Pudong New Area.
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