A tower on the south bank: how it rises
Canton Tower stands on the south bank of the Pearl River, facing Haixinsha, Huacheng Square and Zhujiang New Town across the water. The tower body is 454 meters high and the antenna mast 146 meters, for a total height of 600 meters. Looking up from the shade of trees on the south bank, you first see a profile that is wide at the base, narrow at the waist and opens out again at the top; this is where the nickname “Xiaomanyao” (Little Slim Waist) comes from. Around the base are open plazas and lawns. The closer you stand to the foot of the tower, the harder it is to fit the whole structure into a picture; stepping back beyond the line of trees makes its curve easier to see. South of the tower are Haizhu’s housing and green space, north is the Pearl River, and the base joins these two scales.
An open outer tube twisted from 50,000 tons of steel plate
The tower’s outer tube is not a closed wall but an open lattice of 24 steel columns, 46 steel rings and diagonal bracing. Two ellipses, each wider at the bottom than the top, are offset and rotated 135 degrees counterclockwise; the columns taper from about 2 meters in diameter at the base, and the lattice twists all the way up. A Yangcheng Evening News report says the tower used about 50,000 tons of thick steel plate, and that more than 10,000 components each differ in size and angle. Standing below and looking up, you see the lattice overlap into constantly changing diamonds against the sky; walk halfway around the tower and the density and light change again, and up close you can distinguish the three sets of lines formed by columns, rings and bracing.
Once you are up, look at the river and the tower
The tower has several observation levels at different heights. Official information lists the highest outdoor deck at 488 meters. A horizontal Ferris wheel runs around the edge of the 450-meter open-air deck; on the 106th floor at 424 meters there is a revolving restaurant, and there are also an aerial ladder and an aerial post office. The indoor observation hall at about 433 meters has slanted glass on all sides, and at night city lights reflect on the floor. Higher up on the open deck the wind is stronger; beyond the railing the Pearl River becomes a dark ribbon, with Haixinsha, Ersha Island and the buildings on the north bank laid out in sequence. There are benches and signs on the observation levels, and walking around does not take long, but you have to use the river and the buildings to keep your bearings. The 488-meter deck is higher than the indoor level and offers a wider view, but it is open and windy, so people usually spend less time there than indoors.
Tickets, timing and who it suits
The Haizhu district government page lists opening hours of 9:30–22:30; on holidays or event days, the official notice for the day applies. There are several ticket types, and prices, inclusions and booking methods are subject to Canton Tower’s official ticket page. Attractions such as the Ferris wheel and the drop ride may close temporarily for maintenance, so check the day’s notice before setting out. If you only go up to the main observation level, allow 1.5–2 hours; with the Ferris wheel, photos and queues, 2–3 hours is safer. By day you can see the riverbank and the central axis clearly; after dark the tower’s lights come on together with the buildings on both banks, a different scene. People afraid of heights can look at the structure from the plaza below rather than forcing themselves up; visitors with children should watch the wind and railing heights on the open deck. Opening hours were checked on November 15, 2026.
Useful official references
Check the relevant official service before making arrangements. These links are references, not a guarantee of current services.