TLDR
Canton Tower stands 604 metres tall on Haixinsha Island, the second tallest freestanding tower in China. Basic observation deck tickets start at 150 CNY, Sky Walk at 488 metres runs 298 CNY, Bubble Tram 198 CNY. Reach via Metro Line 3 to Canton Tower Station. Open 9.30am to 10.30pm. Arrive 30 minutes before sunset for the strongest photo window.
Insider Tip
Skip the Sky Walk and Bubble Tram unless you specifically want them. The 150 CNY basic observation deck gives you 95 percent of the view at a third of the combined price. Book a timed ticket 45 minutes before sunset through the official WeChat mini-program to avoid the gate queue.
Planning your stay? Search Guangzhou hotels on Booking.com, with Zhujiang New Town hotels a 10-minute walk from Canton Tower.
The Twisted Waist Skyscraper
Canton Tower opened in 2010 to coincide with the Guangzhou Asian Games. At 604 metres to the top of the antenna it is the second tallest freestanding tower in China and sits comfortably in the top ten tallest structures in the world. The unusual hyperboloid shape, a narrow waist at 280 metres flaring wider above and below, was designed by the Dutch firm Information Based Architecture. The engineering allows the tower to sway up to 2 metres in high winds without transferring motion to the observation decks.
The tower holds a main observation deck at 422 metres on the 108th floor, an outdoor Sky Walk loop at 488 metres with a glass floor section, the Bubble Tram Ferris wheel at 455 metres with 16 individual glass cabins that run along the curved outer rail, and three rotating restaurants between floors 105 and 107. A 4D cinema at the base and a shopping arcade round out the attractions on the tower campus.
The tower also houses the world’s highest bungee jump at 485 metres, the Guinness-verified Skyfall platform. The jump is only open to experienced jumpers with prior certification and runs 3,800 CNY. For most visitors the paid observation options are what matter, and Guangzhou’s tourism board keeps a current schedule for the tower light shows and festival events on its visitor portal.
Which Ticket to Buy
The basic observation deck ticket at 150 CNY (cheaper in advance through WeChat, 170 to 180 CNY at the gate) covers the 108th floor main deck at 422 metres. This is the deck most visitors actually want. You get 360 degree views of the Pearl River, Zhujiang New Town skyline, the Opera House, Haixinsha Island and the older city to the north. The glass is clean, the signage covers major landmarks in English, and you can stay as long as you like.
The Sky Walk at 488 metres runs 298 CNY and adds the outdoor walking loop around the outside of the tower, with a glass floor section at the top. It is safe and fully enclosed but unsettling if heights bother you. The Bubble Tram at 455 metres costs 198 CNY as a standalone or 348 CNY combined with the tower ticket. It is a slow Ferris-wheel loop lasting 20 to 30 minutes around the outer rail of the upper tower with your own glass cabin.
A combined ticket covering all three runs 598 CNY, which makes sense only if you specifically want the full set. The rotating restaurants (105 to 107 floors) are booked separately. Lutian Restaurant fine dining runs from 688 CNY per head. Sky View is 288 to 488 CNY. Book these through the Canton Tower WeChat at least two days in advance. A meal ticket does not include the main observation deck admission.
Getting There and the Best Visit Window
Metro Line 3 South Extension to Canton Tower Station (Exit A or B) drops you directly under the tower. Exit B has the shorter walk to the ticket lobby. The Airport Express APM line also serves Canton Tower Station and connects to Linhexi and Guangzhou East Railway Station without needing to change lines. Didi from Baiyun District runs 50 to 80 CNY and takes 30 to 45 minutes.
The tower is open daily 9.30am to 10.30pm with last admission 9.30pm. The Bubble Tram runs 4pm to 9.30pm in winter and 5pm to 10pm in summer. The best visit window is 30 to 45 minutes before sunset: you see the Pearl River in daylight, watch the CBD skyline light up, and stay for the tower’s own lighting show that turns the structure pink, purple and white after full dark. Sunset times range from 5.45pm in December to 7.15pm in July.
The Guangzhou International Light Festival runs in mid-November and is the peak season, with the tower as the centrepiece of a city-wide light installation. Book tickets weeks ahead during festival nights. Canton Fair weeks in April and October also push demand up, so book in advance. Outside these windows, a Tuesday to Thursday evening is the easiest window for walk-up visits.
What to Pair with a Canton Tower Visit
Haixinsha Island at the foot of the tower has free public gardens and the 2010 Asian Games monuments, open 6am to 11pm. The footbridge from Haixinsha to Zhujiang New Town takes you across the Pearl River to the Guangzhou Opera House (Zaha Hadid’s 2010 design), the Guangdong Provincial Museum (free entry with passport), and the Guangzhou Library. The CBD walking axis from Huacheng Square to Canton Tower runs 2 kilometres through a well-designed pedestrian spine.
A strong evening plan: early dinner in Zhujiang New Town (Bingsheng Mansion for Cantonese or the Taikoo Hui food court for a cheaper mixed bag), walk to Canton Tower for sunset, observation deck from 6pm to 8pm, then a Pearl River night cruise from Tianzi Pier to close the evening. Full budget sits around 400 to 600 CNY per person. The things to do in Guangzhou guide covers the wider CBD itinerary.
You might also find these useful: Things to Do in Guangzhou, Where to Stay in Guangzhou, Walking Tours in Guangzhou.
“Booked the 150 CNY basic ticket on WeChat, went up at 5.30pm for sunset. Views over the Pearl River and Zhujiang New Town were excellent, and the tower’s own light show at 7.30 was worth sticking around for.”
“Comfortable rooms and helpful reception. Handy for day trips to Foshan on Metro Line 1 and a short taxi to Shangxiajiu pedestrian street for evening food.”
Find a base in Guangzhou
Zhujiang New Town hotels put Canton Tower within 10 minutes on foot, and Tianhe hotels are a single metro stop away.
Search Guangzhou HotelsWe may earn a small commission if you book through this link. It does not cost you anything extra.
See Canton Tower Guangzhou in Person
See Guangzhou Baiyun Hotel for Yourself
Browse All Photos on Booking.com →
This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
See Guangzhou Baiyun Hotel for Yourself
Browse All Photos on Booking.com →
This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
How tall is Canton Tower?
Canton Tower stands 604 metres tall, making it the second tallest freestanding tower in China after the Shanghai Tower and one of the ten tallest structures in the world. The observation decks sit at 422 metres (main deck) and 488 metres (outdoor Sky Walk), with the Bubble Tram Ferris wheel at 455 metres.
How much are Canton Tower tickets?
Basic observation deck tickets start at 150 CNY for the 108-floor main deck. The 488 metre outdoor Sky Walk costs 298 CNY. The Bubble Tram Ferris wheel runs 198 CNY and the combined ticket for tower plus Bubble Tram is 348 CNY. Tickets are cheaper through the official WeChat mini-program than at the gate.
What are the opening hours?
Canton Tower is open daily from 9.30am to 10.30pm, with last admission at 9.30pm. The Bubble Tram runs 4pm to 9.30pm in winter and 5pm to 10pm in summer. Sunset is the most popular window so queues build from 5pm onwards, and booking a timed ticket in advance avoids the worst of it.
How do I get to Canton Tower?
Take Metro Line 3 South Extension to Canton Tower Station (Exit A or B), which sits directly under the tower. The Airport Express APM line also connects Canton Tower to Linhexi and Guangzhou East Railway Station. Didi from Baiyun District runs around 50 to 80 CNY during the day and takes 30 to 45 minutes.
What is the best time to visit Canton Tower?
Arrive around 30 minutes before sunset for the strongest photo window. You see the Pearl River in daylight, watch the sun drop behind the CBD skyline, then stay for the lighting show that turns the tower into a pink and purple beacon. The daily Guangzhou International Light Festival in November is the peak season.
Is the Canton Tower Sky Walk scary?
The 488 metre Sky Walk runs around the outside of the tower with a glass floor section at the top. It is safe and fully enclosed by guardrails but unsettling if you dislike heights. The queue moves quickly, the loop takes 30 to 40 minutes and staff are on hand at each station. Skip it if vertigo bothers you.
Are there restaurants at Canton Tower?
The tower has three rotating restaurants on the 105th, 106th and 107th floors. Lutian Restaurant is the fine dining Cantonese option with sets from 688 CNY per person. The Sky View Chinese restaurant is more accessible at 288 to 488 CNY per person. Book through the Canton Tower WeChat channel at least two days in advance.
What else is nearby?
Haixinsha Island sits at the foot of the tower with free public gardens and the 2010 Asian Games monuments. The Haizhu Bridge promenade runs along the Pearl River and gives you tower views without paying admission. Zhujiang New Town and the Guangzhou Opera House are a 10 minute metro ride north on Line 3.