Canton Tower is located near Chigang Pagoda in Haizhu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, at the intersection of the city’s new central axis and the Pearl River landscape axis. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction and a landmark supertall sightseeing building in Guangzhou. The total height of Canton Tower is 600 meters, including a main tower body of 450 meters and an antenna mast of 150 meters. At the time of completion, it was the tallest TV sightseeing tower in China and the third tallest in the world. The project covers a construction land area of about 148,000 square meters, with a building footprint of 17,500 square meters. Its exterior facade adopts a twisting and tapering grid steel structure, giving it a slender and dynamic appearance. It is popularly known as “Slim Waist.” The scenic area integrates multiple functions such as high-altitude sightseeing, leisure and entertainment, dining and exhibitions, and film and television media. It combines urban viewing platforms, high-altitude amusement facilities, and distinctive commercial amenities, offering 360-degree views of central Guangzhou, both banks of the Pearl River, and the surrounding urban scenery. It is a composite sightseeing attraction that combines architectural aesthetics with urban cultural tourism value.
Historical and Cultural
Construction of Canton Tower officially began in November 2005. It was jointly designed by the Dutch firm Information Based Architecture (IBA) and the East China Architectural Design & Research Institute. The original purpose of the project was to replace the old Chigang radio and television transmission tower, undertake basic functions such as radio and television signal transmission and urban emergency communications, and at the same time create a new tourism calling card for the city to meet the development needs of Guangzhou as a modern metropolis.
In September 2009, the main structure of Canton Tower was topped out. It officially opened to the public on September 28, 2010, coinciding with the Guangzhou Asian Games. It became a key supporting landscape project for the Asian Games. Many visitors from home and abroad first became acquainted with this distinctive tower through the Games, and it quickly became a core landmark for Guangzhou to showcase its city image to the outside world.
The architectural design blends Lingnan culture with modern steel structure aesthetics. The twisting, narrowing form of the tower body draws on the shape of wrapped silk, echoing the history of silk trade in Lingnan. The hollow steel structure design balances ventilation, weight reduction, and visual appeal, and has won numerous architecture industry awards. Over more than a decade, Canton Tower has hosted many urban cultural events, including lighting concerts, New Year’s Eve light shows, and high-altitude charity activities. It has gradually become a cultural symbol of Guangzhou, carrying multiple cultural functions such as leisure for residents, a check-in destination for out-of-town tourists, and city celebrations, while continuing to perform the public service function of radio and television signal transmission.
Main Attractions
450m Tower Top Outdoor Observation Deck
This deck is located at the highest point of the tower’s main body, at an altitude of 450 meters. It is the core open-air viewing point of the scenic area. The deck is spacious and has no large glass barriers, offering unobstructed panoramic views of Zhujiang New Town, Haixinsha, Baiyun Mountain, and Guangzhou’s old urban area. The deck has a circular walkway and multiple viewing and photography spots. It is also a preferred location for watching sunrise, city sunset, and nighttime city lights, and features professional camera positions for visitors to take panoramic city photos.
448m High-altitude Ferris Wheel
The Ferris wheel is located on a circular track at the top of the tower at a height of 448 meters. It is the world’s highest Ferris wheel. The track is arranged in a ring along the outer side of the tower. It has 16 fully transparent spherical sightseeing capsules, each capable of accommodating 4 to 6 visitors. A full circle takes about 20 minutes. During the ride, it slowly circles the tower, allowing visitors to look down from different high-altitude angles at the urban landscape where the Pearl River runs through the city. Riding at night offers a full view of the illuminated buildings on both banks.
450m Sky Drop Ride
Sky Drop is located on the 450m tower top platform. It is the world’s highest vertical drop amusement ride. The equipment is built around the tower top mast structure. The seats are rapidly raised to a height of 480 meters and then instantly plunge at high speed, with a drop of more than 30 meters. It combines high-altitude sightseeing with an extreme thrill experience. It is open only to visitors whose physical condition meets the requirements, with strict height, age, and health restrictions.
108th Floor Indoor Observation Hall
The hall is located between 398 and 433 meters in the tower body. It is an enclosed, temperature-controlled sightseeing area equipped with panoramic floor-to-ceiling sightseeing glass. It is unaffected by wind and rain and can be visited year-round. The hall features a city development display wall, a Guangzhou panoramic guide map, a cultural and creative shop, and a rest area. It is a basic sightseeing spot suitable for all ages. Most basic tickets include access to this area.
Pearl River Photography Viewing Platform (Tower Base Plaza)
Located at the riverside plaza at the bottom of Canton Tower, close to the bank of the Pearl River, this is the core ground-level viewpoint for photographing the full panorama of Canton Tower and capturing the tower together with the Pearl River in one frame. The plaza is open and unobstructed, with landscaped greenery and leisure walkways. During the day, you can photograph the entire tower; at night, you can photograph the reflections of the tower’s lights. It is open to the public free of charge, and no tower admission ticket is required.
Suggested Route：
Pearl River Photography Viewing Platform at the tower base → security check and ticket entrance → 108th Floor Indoor Observation Hall → 450m Tower Top Outdoor Observation Deck → 448m High-altitude Ferris Wheel → 450m Sky Drop → tower base commercial street → Pearl River riverside leisure walkway
Travel Tips：
Prefer to go up the tower between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., so you can enjoy daytime city views, sunset glow, and the city’s night views in one visit, experiencing multiple views with a single ticket.
Bring a wide-angle camera or smartphone wide-angle lens. Panoramic photos taken at the outdoor observation deck and by the riverside at the tower base will be more impressive.
If you plan to experience the Ferris wheel and Sky Drop, it is recommended to buy combo tickets online in advance to avoid on-site peak queues and save waiting time.
Seniors, young children, and people afraid of heights should prioritize the 108th Floor Indoor Observation Hall to reduce time spent in open-air high-altitude areas.
After the visit, you can walk along the Pearl River to Haixinsha and Huacheng Square to complete a city central axis sightseeing route.
During holidays and New Year’s Eve light show periods, visitor traffic is extremely heavy. It is recommended to book online one day in advance and travel during off-peak times.
Precautions：
Security checks for entering the tower are strict. Flammable and explosive items, sharp metal tools, drones, and large suitcases are prohibited. Oversized backpacks must be left in storage.
The Sky Drop ride has health restrictions. People with high blood pressure, heart disease, fear of heights, pregnant women, and people with osteoporosis may not ride. Children must be at least 1.4 meters tall to experience it.
High-altitude platforms are windy, and autumn and winter temperatures are low. It is advisable to bring a light jacket. On rainy days, the platform floor is slippery, so be careful when walking.
Inside the tower, using selfie sticks or tripods to occupy a spot for long periods for photography is prohibited. Do not climb over protective railings, and throwing objects from heights is prohibited.
For online ticket purchases, bring the purchaser’s original valid ID. Real-name verification is required on site; without ID, you cannot pass the ticket check and enter the tower.
The scenic area’s light show may be temporarily adjusted due to weather or equipment maintenance. Check official announcements before traveling to confirm show times.
Dining and cultural and creative merchandise inside the tower are relatively expensive. You can buy drinking water and snacks in advance at the shops in the tower base plaza.
Transportation：
Metro: Take Guangzhou Metro Line 3 or the APM Line to Canton Tower Station. Exit and walk 3 to 5 minutes to the main entrance of the scenic area. Take Metro Line 8 to Chigang Station; after exiting, walk about 10 minutes to arrive.
Bus: Take bus routes 11, 262, 468, Sightseeing Bus Line 1, etc., and get off at Canton Tower West Station or Canton Tower Wharf Station.
Water transport: Take a Pearl River cruise to Canton Tower Wharf. After disembarking, walk along the riverside promenade for 5 minutes to reach the scenic area.
Self-driving: Navigate to the Canton Tower underground parking lot. Parking spaces are limited and often fill up on holidays. Parking fees are charged by the hour.
Taxi/ride-hailing: Set your destination as the Canton Tower East Plaza entrance. There is a dedicated pick-up and drop-off area; waiting for a long time while occupying the road is prohibited.
Opening Hours：
The tower admission area is normally open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., with the last ticket check for tower entry at 9:00 p.m. The Pearl River Photography Plaza at the tower base and the surrounding commercial street remain open until 11:00 p.m. During special events or annual equipment maintenance, the scenic area may temporarily adjust opening hours. During maintenance, some high-altitude amusement rides may be suspended. Relevant adjustment information will be announced in advance through official platforms. During statutory holidays and New Year’s Eve events, nighttime visiting hours may be appropriately extended. Specific arrangements are subject to on-site information and official announcements on the day.
Tickets：
Tickets start at RMB 135 per person.