Canton Tower

Guangzhou is a prosperous city and the 600-metre (1,968-foot) tall Canton Tower is a symbol of its growing power and ambition. The tower is one of the world’s tallest buildings, made up of a 450-metre (1,476-foot) main body and a 150-metre (492-foot) TV antenna.  

The towering landmark is characterised by its curved form, which has earned it the nickname of “supermodel”. At its narrowest part, the diameter of the building is only 30 metres (98 feet) wide.   

Go straight to the top of the tower for the open-air observation deck. There are two other observation decks a few floors below. The outstanding views are what attracts the crowds, but there’s more to Canton Tower than a fantastic outlook.  

Take a seat inside one of the transparent carriages of the Bubble Tram. These travel slowly around a track on the perimeter of the tower at 455 metres (1,493 feet) above the ground. Summon up the courage for the Sky Drop, a free-fall ride that starts at 485 metres (1,591 feet) and sends riders down a 30-metre (98-foot) descent in a little more than a second.  

Climb outside the building on the Spider Walk, an open-air staircase between floors 32 and 64. The skywalk consists of 1,028 steps, some of which are transparent, making this one of the world’s longest staircases. You’ll have good opportunities to photograph the building’s open-lattice structure. Walk the stairs at twilight, when the beams look even more spectacular as they are illuminated in different colours for the nightly light show.

For a somewhat calmer experience, enjoy tea and light refreshments in the tower’s cafés or make a lunch or dinner reservation at one of the two revolving sky restaurants.

Admission prices to Canton Tower vary depending on how far up you want to go. For more information on prices, visit the tower’s official website.

Located in Guangzhou’s new business district on the banks of the Pearl River, Canton Tower is accessible by subway or one of several bus routes. Chigang Pagoda Station on Subway Line 3 is connected to the structure by an underpass. The tower is open daily.