Canton Tower
广州塔 · Guǎngzhōu Tǎ
Quick answer
Passport required at the gate (the tower's name-brand ticketing system records it). Tickets sold at the gate or pre-booked via the WeChat mini-program (广州塔). English signage throughout; staff at the main entrance speak basic English.
Why visit
- 1 The world's third-tallest TV tower at 600 m — a hyperboloid structure designed by Dutch architects Mark Hemel and Barbara Kuit, completed 2010
- 2 The 488m Star Sky observation deck is the highest public observation point in China — you can see the entire Pearl River Delta on a clear day, including Hong Kong's mountains to the southeast
- 3 The Bubble Tram (450m outdoor gondola that loops the tower's waist) is the world's highest open-air tram ride — 16 minutes, vertigo-inducing, worth the ¥228
- 4 The 7:30 PM nightly light show (4,500 LEDs) is free to watch from across the river — Haixinsha Park and Huacheng Square are the best viewpoints
- 5 The 106F spiral café serves a complete Cantonese dim sum brunch on a slowly rotating platform (¥288/person, 90 min, reservations required) — a unique Guangzhou experience
Essential tips for foreigners
- Go at sunset, not at night — the magic of Canton Tower is the 30 minutes around sunset when the city lights come on. Book the 16:30-19:00 time slot. After 19:30 the sky is fully dark and the views inside the tower are just black.
- Skip the Star Sky 488 upgrade if you're short on time or budget — the standard 107F-108F observation deck is plenty for most visitors. ¥150 standard vs ¥298 premium is a real difference; the views are 90% the same.
- Watch the 7:30 PM light show from the free side of the river — Haixinsha Park (海心沙) is 10 minutes by metro, has unobstructed views of the full tower, and is free. Pair this with a Pearl River night cruise for the full experience.
- Bring a light jacket in winter — the observation deck is glass-enclosed but the air conditioning keeps it at 18°C in summer and the open-air Bubble Tram is cold in November-February.
- Use the APM line (not Line 3) for the shortest walk — APM (Autonomous People Mover) is a separate small train that runs 06:30-23:00 from Canton Tower to Zhujiang New Town in 6 minutes, ¥2 flat fare.
Suggested route
- 16:00 20 min Arrive at Canton Tower by metro (Line 3 or APM, Exit B). Pre-booked ticket holders enter directly; walk-ins queue at the gate (usually 10-20 min).
- 16:20 1.5 hours Up the elevator to 107F-108F observation deck. The sun is starting to set — find a south-facing window for the Pearl River view.
- 17:50 1.5 hours Sunset. Walk to the 106F spiral café for a 90-minute rotating dim sum brunch (¥288/person, reservations required) — the most unique meal in Guangzhou.
- 19:30 1 hour Down to ground level. Walk 10 minutes east to Haixinsha Park for the 7:30 PM light show — free, unobstructed, can be combined with the Pearl River cruise departure point.
- 20:30 1.5 hours Optional: 70-90 minute Pearl River night cruise (¥88-198). Boats depart from Tianzi Wharf (天字码头) — back to the metro by 22:00.
The world’s third-tallest TV tower
Canton Tower (广州塔, also called Xiaomanyao, 小蛮腰, “Slim Waist,” for its hourglass profile) is a 600m hyperboloid television tower in the Haizhu District of Guangzhou, on the south bank of the Pearl River. Completed in 2010 and designed by Dutch architects Mark Hemel and Barbara Kuit, it was the world’s tallest TV tower until Tokyo Skytree (2012) and is currently the third-tallest, after Tokyo Skytree and Canton Tower’s own record-tying neighbor, the under-construction Shenzhen Pingan Tower.
For first-time visitors to Guangzhou, Canton Tower is the single most-photographed landmark in the city and the orientation point for the entire Zhujiang New Town CBD. The free light show at 7:30 PM every night lights up the tower in 4,500 LED colors and is visible for kilometers.
What to actually see
The standard experience is the 107F-108F indoor observation deck. The 107F is the main viewing level with floor-to-ceiling windows on all four sides; the 108F is the higher outdoor terrace (closed in bad weather). From here, on a clear day, you can see the entire Pearl River Delta — including the mountains of Hong Kong 120 km to the southeast and Macau 100 km to the south.
The premium experience is the 450m Bubble Tram — a 16-minute outdoor gondola ride that loops the tower’s waist. It’s the world’s highest open-air tram and the unique-to-Canton-Tower experience. Tickets are ¥228; the tram runs only in good weather.
For the highest point, the 488m Star Sky observation deck — accessed via a separate elevator from the 107F — has the highest public observation level in China. The ¥298 ticket includes a Sky Drop ride (a controlled-descent thrill ride) and access to the glass-floor skywalk. Most foreign visitors skip this; the views are similar to the 107F and the price is double.
The 106F spiral café is worth considering: a slowly rotating observation café serving dim sum. The food is mid-tier but the rotation and views are unique. ¥288/person for 90 minutes, reservations required.
When to go
Best: October-December. Clear skies, low humidity, comfortable temperatures (15-25°C). Sunset is 17:30-18:00 in November — the most magical hour.
Acceptable: March-May. Warming up (20-28°C) and increasingly humid, but the views are still clear most days. The flowers are out in Shamian Island across the river.
Avoid: June-August. Brutally hot (32-38°C) and wet. The Pearl River Delta is also typhoon territory — Canton Tower closes 24 hours before a category-3 or higher landfall. If you visit in summer, book a morning time slot to avoid the afternoon thunderstorms.
Time of day: sunset. Always sunset. The 30 minutes around sunset are when the city lights come on and the sky goes from blue to orange to purple. The standard ticket is ¥150 — same price at any time of day. Don’t waste it at 14:00 in bright daylight.
How to get there
The metro is the easiest. Canton Tower Station is on Line 3 and the APM (Autonomous People Mover) line. APM is a separate small automated rail that runs 06:30-23:00 from Canton Tower to Zhujiang New Town in 6 minutes, ¥2 flat fare. The tower is 5 minutes walk from Exit B.
From Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN), take Line 3 northbound for 45 minutes, ¥8.
From Tianhe East railway station (高铁站) — where high-speed trains from Hong Kong (West Kowloon) and Shenzhen arrive — Didi is 20 minutes, ¥35-50.
What to pair it with
Canton Tower is the centerpiece of the Zhujiang New Town CBD. Pair your visit with:
- Pearl River night cruise (¥88-198, 70-90 min) — departs from Tianzi Wharf, 10 min from the tower, sees the tower lit up from the water
- Haixinsha Park (free) — 10 min walk east, the best free view of the tower
- Huacheng Square (free) — the central plaza of the CBD, 5 min by metro
- Guangdong Museum (free) — across the river from the tower, an hour is enough
Best photo spots
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Haixinsha Park (海心沙) riverbank · Blue hour — 19:00-19:30 (winter), 19:30-20:00 (summer)
The classic postcard view. 800m across the river from Canton Tower, unobstructed, the full 600m spire fits in frame. Tripod-friendly. The walkway over the river is the most-photographed spot in Guangzhou.
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107F observation deck (east-facing window) · 16:30-18:00 (sunset)
The 30 minutes around sunset, looking east over the Pearl River. The sky goes from blue to orange to purple while the city lights come on. Use a polarizer to cut window glare.
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Bubble Tram (450m outdoor tram) · Any time during operating hours
The world's highest open-air tram ride. 16 minutes looping the tower's waist at 450m. Bring a GoPro with a chest harness — your hands will be on the rail.
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Huacheng Square (花城广场) looking south · Blue hour
The CBD square view — the tower framed by Guangzhou's twin towers (IFC and West Tower). The 'Money Shot' of the Guangzhou skyline.
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Liede Bridge (猎德大桥) pedestrian walkway · Sunset (17:00-18:30 in winter)
Walk across the bridge for a unique view of the tower from the south side, with the CBD skyline behind you. Best in winter when the sunset lights up the river.
Where to eat nearby
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106F spiral café (rotating dim sum) at Canton Tower
Cantonese dim sum served on a slowly rotating observation deck. Premium experience — not the best dim sum in Guangzhou, but the views and the rotation make it unique. Reservations required. · ¥288/person (90 minutes) · Inside Canton Tower, 106F
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Tao Tao Ju (陶陶居) — 10th floor, Beijing Road
1880 heritage dim sum house. Har gow, siu mai, char siu bao, cheung fun. Michelin-recommended. The 10th-floor balcony has views over Beijing Road pedestrian street. · ¥80-150/person · 20 minutes by metro from Canton Tower (Beijing Road Station)
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Guangzhou Restaurant (广州酒家) — Binjiang branch
Classic Cantonese banquet restaurant, famous for whole roasted pig and abalone. Less touristy than Tao Tao Ju, more authentic. · ¥150-300/person · 10 minutes by Didi from Canton Tower
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Huacheng Hui (花城汇) food court, Zhujiang New Town
Underground food court with 50+ stalls serving local Cantonese street food, BBQ skewers, seafood claypot, and bubble tea. Cheap, fast, family-friendly. · ¥30-80/person · 5 minutes by metro (Huacheng Square Station)
Frequently asked questions
How much does Canton Tower cost in 2026?
Three tiers: **¥150** for the standard 107F-108F observation deck, **¥228** for the 450m Bubble Tram (outdoor), **¥298** for the Star Sky 488 sky-drop observation. Children under 1.2 m free with adult; 1.2-1.5 m half price. Combo tickets with Sky Drop ride run ¥398-498.
What is the best time to visit Canton Tower?
The 30 minutes around sunset, year-round. In winter (November-February) sunset is 17:30-18:00, so book the 16:30-19:00 time slot. In summer (May-July) sunset is 19:00-19:30, so book the 18:00-20:30 slot. The 7:30 PM light show is worth seeing — plan to be down by 21:00 to walk over to Haixinsha Park.
Is Canton Tower worth going up?
Yes, for first-time visitors. The 107F observation is the standard, and the views are genuinely impressive on a clear day. Skip if: (a) you've already been up a tall tower (Tokyo Skytree, Macau Tower, Shanghai Tower), (b) the weather is hazy or raining — the views are 60% of the experience, (c) you're on a tight budget — watch from Haixinsha Park for free.
Can I buy tickets at the door?
Yes, on weekdays. On weekends, holidays, and at sunset time slots, the standard ticket is usually available at the door but the Bubble Tram and Star Sky 488 sell out by 10:00 AM. Book these premium tickets in advance via the WeChat mini-program (广州塔).
What is the Pearl River night cruise vs Canton Tower?
Different experiences. The night cruise (¥88-198) is on the water at river level — you see the tower lit up from outside, plus Haixinsha, Liede Bridge, and the Lujiang CBD skyline. Canton Tower (¥150-298) is inside the tower at 400-488m — you look out over the entire city. Most foreign visitors do both: tower at sunset, cruise after dinner.
Is Canton Tower accessible for wheelchairs?
Yes. Elevators go from ground level to the 108F observation deck. The 107F outdoor terrace has ramp access. The Bubble Tram and Sky Drop are NOT wheelchair-accessible. Strollers are fine for the 107F-108F decks.
What is the best place to photograph Canton Tower?
Haixinsha Park (海心沙) is the classic spot — you're 800m away on the riverbank, no obstructions, the full tower fits in frame. Go at blue hour (19:00-19:30 in winter, 19:30-20:00 in summer) when the sky is still deep blue but the tower lights are on. The 6th floor of the Four Seasons Hotel across the river also has a great rooftop bar view (¥80 minimum spend).
Do I need a Chinese phone number to book tickets?
For the WeChat mini-program, yes — the SMS verification code is sent to a Chinese mobile. Workaround: ask your hotel front desk to use their number, or use Trip.com (which sends the confirmation by email and has an English interface). Walk-in at the gate is the easiest path if you don't have a Chinese number.