Canton Tower and it's views

Canton Tower, Guangzhou's tallest structure, is 600m tall, twice as tall as the Eiffel Tower, and was built in 2010. It has a twisted shape and stands opposite the new CBD, Zhujiang New Town, across the Pearl River, as part of the Huzhou district. After dark it frequently shifts colour, illuminated by LED lights. Canton Tower was the tallest tower in the world for 2 years, replacing the long time record holder CN Tower in Toronto In 2012 it was beaten by Tokyo Sky Tree by only 34m. It wasalso the tallest structure in China until Shanghai Tower was built in 2013. During our visit, in 2015, it was the 3rd tallest tower in the world, and 5th tallest structure. The spire on the top is 150m high and the height to the top of the roof is 454m.

There are several observation decks and restaurants inside the tower, and a so called "bubble train" drives around on the top, if the height is not enough. A fast glass elevator with views over the city takes you to the observation decks. There are totally 37 floors. Canton Tower had an important role for the 2010 Asian Games opening ceremony. The original proposed named for the tower was Haixu Tower (Tower of the Sea). Canton Tower was designed by Information Based Architecture, together with Arup. Among the tower complex's facilities, that conisist of zones on different levels, are TV and radio transmission facilities, observatory decks, revolving restaurants, computer gaming, restaurants, exhibition spaces, conference rooms, shops, and 4D cinemas. The zone from 80-170 m features a 4D cinema, a play-hall area, restaurants, coffee shops and outdoor gardens with tea houses. The Skywalk is the highest and longest open-air staircase in the world, at the height of 170-340m. The top zone hosts a two-storey revolving restaurant and a tuned mass-damper. In 2016, Canton Tower will share the title as Guangdong Province's tallest structure with Shenzhen's Ping An Internatinoal Finance Centre, that wil have the same height.

We visited at night, and the visit was very brief, since the tower was about to close. We visited one of the observation decks and took a ride with the glass-enclosed elevator. Tickets are very expensive, even with international standards.