# Central Radio & TV Tower, Beijing

> The Central Radio & TV Tower (CCTV Tower) is Beijing's 405 m TV tower, in the west of the city opposite Yuyuantan Park. You come for the open-air ring deck at 238 m; a revolving buffet restaurant turns at 221 m. Tickets are CNY 90, open daily 8:30–22:00 with last tickets at 21:30. Allow about an hour.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/beijing-tv-tower

- City: [Beijing](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing), China
- YesGo score: 29/100 (Yes, if nearby)
- Time on site: 1 h
- Entry: CNY 90
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Observation deck ticket: CNY 90
- Children: Under 1.2 m free; 1.2–1.4 m CNY 45
- Seniors and visitors with disabilities: CNY 50; visitors with disabilities free on Mondays (not public holidays) with ID
- Hours: Daily 8:30–22:00; entry and ticket sales until 21:30
- Revolving restaurant: Floor 18, 221 m, buffet including deck access. Lunch roughly CNY 170–260, dinner ≈ CNY 290 — guides differ
- Restaurant hours: Lunch 11:00–14:00, dinner 17:00–21:00
- Floor 19 hall: Indoor level at 225 m; one guide says it is under renovation while the open-air deck stays open
- Address: 11 Xisanhuan Zhonglu (西三环中路11号), Haidian — across the road from Yuyuantan Park
- Metro: Xidiaoyutai (Line 10), ≈ 10–15 min walk; Gongzhufen (Lines 1 and 10), ≈ 20 min walk
- Time needed: ≈ 1 hour; 2–2.5 hours with a restaurant meal
- Coordinates: 39.91809, 116.30041
- Facts checked: 04.11.2026

## Key facts

- **405 m** — total height including the antenna (source: Beijing Municipal Government; English, Russian and Chinese Wikipedia)
- **238 m** — open-air ring observation deck on floor 22 (source: Beijing Municipal Government; Visit Beijing; Chinese Wikipedia)
- **221 m** — revolving restaurant on floor 18 (source: Visit Beijing; Chinese Wikipedia; tour-beijing.com)
- **1994** — opened to sightseers on 1 October (source: Visit Beijing; Chinese Wikipedia)
- **1992** — completed and began broadcasting (source: English and Chinese Wikipedia)
- **1987** — construction began (source: English and Chinese Wikipedia; Visit Beijing)
- **2018** — Beijing's tallest structure until the China Zun skyscraper overtook it (source: English and Chinese Wikipedia)
- **225 m** — indoor level on floor 19 (source: tour-beijing.com; dahepiao.com; eastchinatrip.com)
- **1,484 steps** — in the tower's annual stair-climbing race (source: English and Chinese Wikipedia)
- **≈ 60,000 m²** — of floor space (source: English and Chinese Wikipedia)
- **Aquarium** — the Pacific Underwater World aquarium sits at the base of the tower (source: Chinese Wikipedia; Visit Beijing)

> **Not the CCTV Headquarters** This is the slim concrete needle in Haidian, west Beijing. The famous leaning loop of the CCTV Headquarters — the “big pants” — is an office building in the CBD, about 13 km east, and is a different trip altogether. For a taxi or DiDi, show 中央电视塔.

## Central Radio & TV Tower tickets and opening hours

The official adult price is **CNY 90**. Children under 1.2 m go up free, children 1.2–1.4 m pay CNY 45, and seniors and visitors with disabilities pay CNY 50. The tower is open **daily, 8:30–22:00**, with entry and ticket sales until 21:30 — there is no weekly closing day.

Buy at the ticket office at the foot of the tower. Chinese platforms such as Ctrip and Qunar sell slightly cheaper tickets but need a Chinese phone number and Alipay or WeChat Pay; Trip.com and Klook take foreign cards (unofficial). At the counter, Alipay linked to a foreign card or cash yuan are the safe bets. Keep your passport on you.

## Is the CCTV Tower worth it?

Yes, if you want one big panorama of Beijing, a sunset over the Western Hills or the city lights after dark. The open-air ring at 238 m is the real draw: no glass in front of you, just wind and a 360° view over Yuyuantan Park and the Third Ring Road.

Skip it if you are short on time and mainly want to see the Forbidden City from above — the hill in [Jingshan Park](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/jingshan-park) does that better for CNY 2, right behind the palace. The tower is almost 8 km west of the centre, so it suits a late afternoon rather than squeezing it between palaces.

## What to see at the top

- **Open-air deck, 238 m** — a full ring around the shaft. Yuyuantan Lake below, the Western Hills on a clear day.
- **Sunset to the west** — the sun drops behind the hills, then the Third Ring Road and Chang'an Avenue light up.
- **Revolving restaurant, 221 m** — the same view from a buffet table.
- **Floor 19, 225 m** — an indoor radio-and-TV hall and gift shop; one guide reports the hall is being renovated.
- **The tower from below** — the best photos are from the bridges and banks of Yuyuantan Park, especially during the spring cherry blossom.
- **Aquarium at the base** — sold with the deck as a combo ticket; handy with kids.

## How to get to the Central Radio & TV Tower

1. From Tiananmen Square, board Line 1 at Tiananmen West and ride 6 stops west to **Gongzhufen** — no changes, about 15 minutes.
2. Shortest walk: change at Gongzhufen to Line 10 and go one stop north to **Xidiaoyutai**. Leave by Exit C; the tower is a 10–15 minute walk.
3. No change? From Gongzhufen walk north along the West Third Ring Road for about 20 minutes — the tower is in sight the whole way.
4. The ticket office and entrance are at the foot of the tower on the ring-road side. A fast lift takes you straight up to floor 22.
5. Back the same way, or take a taxi or DiDi to the centre — show the driver 中央电视塔.

## Revolving restaurant

The restaurant at **221 m** serves a Chinese-and-Western buffet. The floor turns slowly — a full circle takes about an hour and a half (Visit Beijing says 80 minutes) — and deck access is included in the price.

Prices vary between guides: lunch roughly CNY 170–260, dinner around CNY 290 per adult. Lunch runs about 11:00–14:00 and dinner from 17:00; booking matters only on Chinese holidays. Come for the experience, not the food — the plain deck ticket gives you the same view for far less.

## Best time to go

Arrive **an hour before sunset**: one ticket covers daylight, the sun dropping behind the Western Hills and the lights coming on. With tickets on sale until 21:30, there is time for an evening visit in any season.

Watch the air quality — on a hazy day there is little to see from 238 m. Pick a clear, breezy day, ideally after rain or a north wind. The open deck is very windy, so bring a jacket outside summer.

## Before you go: checklist

- [ ] Clear day, low haze
- [ ] I'll reach the ticket office before 21:30
- [ ] Alipay with a foreign card, or cash yuan
- [ ] Passport on me
- [ ] Jacket for the open-air deck
- [ ] 中央电视塔 saved for the taxi driver

## CCTV Tower vs Oriental Pearl and other viewpoints

|  | Central Radio & TV Tower | Olympic Tower | Jingshan Park | Oriental Pearl (Shanghai) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Viewing level | 238 m, open-air | Deck under renovation | Hill above the Forbidden City | 263 m, glass floor at 259 m |
| What you see | West Beijing, Yuyuantan, hills | Olympic Park | Palace roofs and the city axis | Lujiazui and the Bund |
| Ticket | CNY 90 | Closed | CNY 2 | From CNY 199 |
| Revolving restaurant | 221 m | — | — | 267 m |
| Time needed | ≈ 1 h | — | ≈ 1 h | ≈ 1.5 h |

First time in Beijing and only one viewpoint? Choose Jingshan — it shows the [Forbidden City](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/forbidden-city) itself. The tower is for sunset, lights and a wide panorama. The [Olympic Tower](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/beijing-olympic-park) is closed for now; Shanghai's Oriental Pearl is taller and pricier, with a glass floor.

## Beijing viewpoints compared

Every Beijing viewpoint rated by YesGo.

- [Tiananmen Gate](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/tiananmen-gate) — YesGo score 49/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ¥15, concession ¥5, booking only
- [Houhai Lake and Shichahai](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/houhai-lake) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free
- [Jingshan Park](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/jingshan-park) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ¥2, ¥10 during exhibitions
- [Drum and Bell Towers](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/beijing-drum-and-bell-towers) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · ¥30 for both towers
- [Beihai Park](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/beihai-park) — YesGo score 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · ¥5–10, ¥15–20 with the island
- [Summer Palace](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/beijing-summer-palace) — YesGo score 33/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h 30 min · ¥20–30, ¥50–60 through ticket
- [Olympic Park and Bird's Nest](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/beijing-olympic-park) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Park free; Bird's Nest ≈ ¥50–100
- [Central Radio & TV Tower](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/beijing-tv-tower) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · CNY 90
- [Great Wall at Badaling](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/badaling-great-wall) — YesGo score 27/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · ¥40 entry; ¥35 November–March
- [Great Wall at Juyongguan](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/juyongguan-great-wall) — YesGo score 20/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h 30 min · ¥35 entry; ¥40 April–October
- [Great Wall at Mutianyu](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/great-wall-mutianyu) — YesGo score 19/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · ¥40–45 entry; cable car ¥100–140
- [Gubei Water Town and Simatai Great Wall](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/gubei-water-town) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · ¥140 entry; ¥170 with Simatai wall
- [Longqing Gorge](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/longqing-gorge) — YesGo score 16/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · ¥40, boat ¥100

## The centre by day, the tower at sunset

Square and palace in the morning, the roofs from Jingshan hill after lunch, then Line 1 west for sunset from the tower. YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

1. [Tiananmen Square](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/tiananmen-square) — YesGo score 68/100 (Yes, go) · 45 min · Free, passport booking
2. [Forbidden City](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/forbidden-city) — YesGo score 61/100 (Yes, go) · 3 h 30 min · ¥40 Nov–Mar, ¥60 Apr–Oct
3. [Jingshan Park](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/jingshan-park) — YesGo score 37/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · ¥2, ¥10 during exhibitions
4. [Central Radio & TV Tower](https://yesgo.io/china/beijing/beijing-tv-tower) — YesGo score 29/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · CNY 90

## Good to know

Central Radio & TV Tower, CCTV Tower, Central TV Tower and 中央广播电视塔 are all the same place. The CCTV Headquarters in the CBD is a different building, and the Olympic Tower is a third one, at the Olympic Park in the north. The Tianjin TV Tower is in another city.

## Tips

- Arrive an hour before sunset — one ticket, three views: daylight, sunset and city lights.
- The deck is windy even in summer; bring a layer.
- Walking from Gongzhufen, follow the Third Ring Road north — the tower guides you.
- In spring, pair the tower with Yuyuantan Park across the road for the cherry blossom.
- For the Forbidden City from above, go to Jingshan Park — the tower is nearly 8 km from the palace.
- Book the restaurant for an occasion; for the view alone the deck ticket is enough.

## Questions

### How much are Central Radio & TV Tower tickets?

CNY 90 for adults. Under 1.2 m free, 1.2–1.4 m CNY 45, seniors and visitors with disabilities CNY 50.

### What are the CCTV Tower opening hours?

Daily 8:30–22:00; entry and ticket sales stop at 21:30. There is no weekly closing day.

### How do I get to the CCTV Tower by metro?

Line 1 to Gongzhufen, then about 20 minutes on foot north. Or change to Line 10 for one stop to Xidiaoyutai, Exit C, and walk 10–15 minutes.

### Is the CCTV Tower the same as the CCTV Headquarters?

No. The tower is a TV tower in Haidian, west Beijing. The CCTV Headquarters — the “big pants” — is an office building in the CBD, about 13 km east.

### Is the Central Radio & TV Tower worth visiting?

Yes for a wide panorama, sunset and night lights from an open-air deck. If you only want the Forbidden City from above, Jingshan Park is closer and cheaper.

### How tall is the CCTV Tower?

405 m including the antenna. The open-air deck is at 238 m, the revolving restaurant at 221 m.

### How much is the revolving restaurant?

A buffet with deck access: lunch roughly CNY 170–260, dinner about CNY 290. Prices differ between sources — confirm on the day.

### How long do you need at the tower?

About an hour for the deck, 2–2.5 hours with a meal, plus 30–40 minutes each way from the centre.

### Can foreigners pay at the tower?

Use cash yuan or Alipay linked to a foreign card at the ticket office; Trip.com and Klook sell tickets online with foreign cards.

## How we checked

Fares, hours and the address come from the Beijing government's official page; a recent Visit Beijing article confirms the tower and restaurant are operating. One Chinese ticket seller lists 9:00–21:00, which contradicts the official hours, so we don't use it. Restaurant prices differ between guides, so we show a range marked “verifying”. Only one guide reports the floor 19 renovation, while Visit Beijing says the shop on that floor is open — also “verifying”. Construction and opening years are checked against Wikipedia and Visit Beijing: broadcasting from 1992, sightseeing from 1994. Walking times are worked out from station and tower coordinates and cross-checked with guides.

## Sources

- Beijing Municipal Government, english.beijing.gov.cn — Central TV Tower: fares, hours, address, heights (2024 page)
- Visit Beijing (official Beijing tourism portal) — articles on the tower, restaurant and floor 19 shop, from early articles to a recent one
- eastchinatrip.com — CCTV Tower travel guide: metro, restaurant, floor 19 renovation
- tour-beijing.com — how to visit CCTV Tower: Gongzhufen metro, floors, restaurant
- dahepiao.com — deck heights and tickets
- Qunar — reseller prices
- The Beijing News (2022) and Bendibao (2023) — earlier temporary renovation closures
- English, Russian and Chinese Wikipedia: Central Radio & TV Tower; Wikidata Q190377
- English Wikipedia — Gongzhufen and Xidiaoyutai stations, Beijing Subway Line 1
- YesGo China notes — payments for foreign visitors

---

This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.