Canton Tower is located near Chigang Tower in Haizhu District, Guangzhou City, 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 super-high-rise sightseeing building of Guangzhou. The total height of the entire Canton Tower building is 600 meters, of which the main tower body stands 450 meters tall and the antenna mast is 150 meters high. Upon completion, it ranked first in China and third in the world among television sightseeing towers. The project covers a construction land area of approximately 148,000 square meters, with a building footprint of 17,500 square meters. Its overall facade adopts a twisted gradient grid steel structure, featuring a slender and agile shape, commonly nicknamed "Little Waist" by locals. Integrating high-altitude sightseeing, leisure entertainment, catering and exhibitions, film and television communication and other diverse functions, the scenic area incorporates urban viewing platforms, high-altitude amusement facilities and characteristic commercial supporting services. Visitors can overlook the central urban area of Guangzhou, both banks of the Pearl River and surrounding city scenery at a 360-degree angle, making it a composite sightseeing spot with both architectural aesthetics and urban cultural tourism value.
History and Culture
The Canton Tower project officially started construction in November 2005, jointly designed by the Dutch IBA Office and East China Architectural Design & Research Institute. Its original construction purpose was to replace the old Chigang Radio and Television Transmitting Tower, undertaking basic functions such as radio and television signal transmission and urban emergency communication. Meanwhile, it serves as a brand-new urban tourism calling card to meet the development demands of modern Guangzhou metropolis.
In September 2009, the main structure of Canton Tower was topped out, and it officially opened to the public on September 28, 2010, coinciding with the Guangzhou Asian Games. As a key supporting landscape project of the Asian Games, numerous tourists at home and abroad got to know this distinctive high tower through the games, and it quickly became the core landmark showcasing Guangzhou's urban image to the outside world.
The architectural design integrates Lingnan culture and modern steel structure aesthetics. The twisted and narrowed tower shape draws inspiration from wrapped silk, echoing the history of Lingnan silk trade. The hollow steel structure balances ventilation, weight reduction and visual beauty, winning multiple major awards in the construction industry. Over more than a decade, Canton Tower has hosted a large number of urban cultural events including light music concerts, New Year's Eve light shows and high-altitude public welfare activities, gradually evolving into a cultural symbol of Guangzhou. It fulfills multiple cultural functions such as citizens' leisure, tourist check-ins and urban celebrations, while continuously undertaking the public service of radio and television signal transmission.
Main Attractions
450m Outdoor Observation Deck at Tower Top
Situated at the highest point of the main body of Canton Tower with an altitude of 450 meters, this deck is the core open-air viewing spot of the scenic area. It boasts a spacious area without large glass barriers, allowing unobstructed panoramic views of Zhujiang New Town, Haixinsha, Baiyun Mountain and the old town of Guangzhou. Equipped with a circular walkway and multiple viewing and shooting spots, it is the optimal location to watch sunrise, urban sunset and city-wide lights at night. Professional camera positions are also available for visitors to capture grand panoramic city photos.
448m High-altitude Ferris Wheel
The Ferris wheel is mounted on a circular track at a height of 448 meters atop the tower, the world's highest horizontal Ferris wheel. The track loops along the outer side of the tower and carries 16 fully transparent spherical sightseeing cabins, each accommodating 4 to 6 visitors with a single rotation lasting about 20 minutes. During the ride, visitors can slowly circle the tower and overlook the urban landscape traversed by the Pearl River from various high-altitude angles. Riding at night offers a complete view of lit building clusters on both river banks.
450m Sky Drop Amusement Ride
Sky Drop is located on the 450m tower top platform, the world's tallest vertical drop amusement project. Built relying on the tower's mast structure, its seats can be rapidly lifted to 480 meters before an instantaneous free fall with a drop of over 30 meters, combining high-altitude sightseeing and extreme thrills. It is only open to visitors meeting physical fitness standards, with strict restrictions on height, age and health conditions.
108th Floor Indoor Observation Hall
The hall spans the tower section from 398 meters to 433 meters, a closed constant-temperature sightseeing zone fitted with full panoramic floor-to-ceiling viewing glass, accessible all year round regardless of wind or rain. It features urban development exhibition walls, a full Guangzhou panoramic map, cultural and creative shops and rest areas, a family-friendly basic viewing spot accessible with most standard entry tickets.
Pearl River Photography Platform (Tower Base Square)
Located at the riverside square at the foot of Canton Tower right next to the Pearl River, it is the core ground viewing spot to shoot full panoramas of Canton Tower with the river in frame. The square is wide and unobstructed, supported by green landscapes and leisure walkways. Visitors can photograph the complete tower body by day and its lit reflection on the river after dark. Admission is free with no tower entry ticket required.
Tour Route
Pearl River Photography Platform at Tower Base → Security & Ticket Check Entrance → 108th Floor Indoor Observation Hall → 450m Outdoor Observation Deck at Tower Top → 448m High-altitude Ferris Wheel → 450m Sky Drop Amusement Ride → Supporting Commercial Blocks at Tower Base → Leisure Riverside Walkway along Pearl River
Travel Tips
- Opt for the time window from 16:00 to 20:00 to climb the tower; you can enjoy daytime city scenery, sunset glow and night city views all in one ticket.
- Bring a wide-angle camera or phone wide-angle lens for better panoramic shots at the outdoor observation deck and riverside square.
- If you plan to experience the Ferris wheel and Sky Drop, purchase combo tickets online in advance to avoid long on-site queues and save waiting time.
- Elderly visitors, young children and those with acrophobia are recommended to tour only the 108th Floor Indoor Observation Hall to minimize open-air high-altitude exposure.
- After sightseeing, walk along the Pearl River to Haixinsha and Huacheng Square to complete a full sightseeing route along the city's central axis.
- During holidays and New Year's Eve light shows, tourist volume surges greatly; book tickets online one day ahead to visit off-peak hours.
Precautions
- Strict security checks apply before tower entry. Flammable and explosive goods, sharp metal tools, drones and large suitcases are prohibited; oversized backpacks must be stored in lockers.
- Sky Drop carries health restrictions. Visitors with hypertension, heart disease, acrophobia, pregnant women and those with osteoporosis are not allowed to ride; children must be taller than 1.4 meters to participate.
- Strong winds blow on high-altitude platforms, and temperatures drop in autumn and winter; bring a light jacket. The deck floor gets slippery on rainy days, so walk cautiously.
- Tripods and selfie sticks cannot occupy shooting spots for long inside the tower. Do not climb over guardrails or litter from heights.
- Online ticket holders must carry the original valid ID of the ticket buyer for real-name verification at the gate; no ID means no entry to the tower.
- Light shows may be rescheduled temporarily due to weather or equipment maintenance; check official announcements for show times before your trip.
- Catering and cultural souvenirs inside the tower are relatively pricey; buy drinking water and snacks at shops on the tower base square beforehand.
Transportation
- Metro: Take Guangzhou Metro Line 3 or APM Line to Canton Tower Station, a 3–5 minute walk leads straight to the main scenic entrance; take Line 8 to Chigang Station, followed by a 10-minute walk.
- Bus: Take buses No.11, 262, 468 or Sightseeing Bus Line 1 to Canton Tower West Stop or Canton Tower Pier Stop.
- Water Transport: Board a Pearl River cruise to Canton Tower Pier, then walk 5 minutes along the riverside promenade to the scenic spot.
- Self-driving: Navigate to the underground parking lot of Canton Tower. Parking spaces are limited and fully occupied on holidays, with hourly parking fees charged.
- Taxi/Ride-hailing: Set destination as East Square Entrance of Canton Tower. Dedicated pick-up and drop-off zones are provided; long-term parking at curbs is forbidden.
Opening Hours
The tower climbing area of Canton Tower normally opens daily from 09:30 to 22:00, with the latest ticket check for tower entry at 21:00. The Pearl River Photography Square at the tower base and surrounding commercial blocks stay open until 23:00. Opening hours may be temporarily adjusted for special events or annual equipment maintenance, during which certain high-altitude amusement rides will suspend operation. All adjustments will be announced in advance via official channels. Opening hours will be appropriately extended for night tours during statutory holidays and New Year's Eve celebrations, subject to on-site arrangements and official notices on the day of visit.
Ticket Information
Ticket prices start from 135 RMB per person. Search the official WeChat service account "广州塔" for the latest updates.
Online Booking
Click here to jump to the Trip.com ticketing platform for ticket purchase.