# Canton Tower, Guangzhou

> Canton Tower (广州塔) is Guangzhou's 600 m lattice TV tower on the south bank of the Pearl River. The basic ticket to the indoor decks at 428–433 m is ¥150; adding the 450 m open-air roof makes it ¥228. Unofficially it's open daily 9:30–22:30, last entry 22:00. Allow two hours and bring your passport.

Web page: https://yesgo.io/china/guangzhou/canton-tower

- City: [Guangzhou](https://yesgo.io/china/guangzhou), China
- YesGo score: 45/100 (Yes, if nearby)
- Time on site: 2 h
- Entry: From ¥150, under 1.2 m free
- With kids: Fine with kids
- Indoor decks 428–433 m: ¥150; online deals from about ¥135
- + 450 m open-air roof: ¥228
- + Bubble Tram (460 m combo): ¥298 list price, from about ¥283 online
- + 488 m deck: ¥328; everything including Sky Drop ¥398
- Children: Under 1.2 m or aged 6 and under free for the indoor decks; 1.2–1.5 m child fare
- Hours: Daily 9:30–22:30, last entry 22:00; Bubble Tram and Sky Drop from 10:00, later on Mondays
- Where to buy: Online only, timed slots — Trip.com with a foreign card, or the tower's WeChat account and website
- ID: Real-name tickets — bring your passport
- Address: 222 Yuejiang West Road (阅江西路222号), Haizhu District
- Metro: Canton Tower station — Line 3 and the APM; Haizhu Tram stop next door
- Time needed: ≈ 2 hours; up to 3 with a sunset Bubble Tram ride
- Coordinates: 23.10920, 113.31915
- Facts checked: 04.11.2026

## Key facts

- **600 m** — total height including the antenna mast (source: English, Russian and Chinese Wikipedia; Travel China Guide)
- **488 m** — open-air rooftop deck — the highest point visitors can reach (source: Travel China Guide; English Wikipedia)
- **16** — glass Bubble Tram cabins ride a track around the roof edge (source: English and Chinese Wikipedia; Travel China Guide)
- **2010** — opened to visitors in the autumn, in time for the Guangzhou Asian Games (source: English, Russian and Chinese Wikipedia)
- **IBA** — Amsterdam practice of Mark Hemel and Barbara Kuit designed it; Arup engineered it (source: English and Russian Wikipedia)
- **2009–2011** — the world's tallest tower, until Tokyo Skytree overtook it (source: English Wikipedia; Russian Wikipedia gives 2009–2012)
- **≈ 30 m** — diameter of the narrowest point, the 'waist' (source: Travel China Guide)
- **168–334 m** — the open-air Spider Walk staircase winds up the lattice (source: Chinese Wikipedia; Travel China Guide; chinafortravelers.com)
- **小蛮腰** — Xiaomanyao, 'slim waist' — the locals' nickname (source: English and Chinese Wikipedia)
- **2005** — construction began in November (source: English and Chinese Wikipedia)

> **Timed tickets, passport and haze** Tickets are real-name and timed: bring your **passport** and turn up in your slot — unofficially, arriving more than about 30 minutes late can get you turned away. Sunset slots on weekends and Chinese holidays sell out a day or two ahead. On a hazy or low-cloud day the view from 450 m is mostly white; if the top of the tower is in cloud, move your visit.

## Canton Tower tickets: which one to buy

Tickets come in tiers, each including the one below. **¥150** gets you the indoor decks at 428–433 m. **¥228** adds the 450 m open-air roof. **¥298** adds the Bubble Tram. **¥328** adds the 488 m deck instead. **¥398**, the top 'Tower Glamour' pass, bundles everything including Sky Drop. Three travel guides agree on these list prices; online sellers often shave ¥10–15 off.

Our pick: the ¥228 ticket for a first visit — standing on an open roof 450 m above the river beats looking through glass. Add the Bubble Tram (¥298) if you're going at sunset: one slow loop takes 20 minutes or more and the city turns beneath you. The ¥398 pass only makes sense if you actually want the Sky Drop.

Children under 1.2 m or aged 6 and under go free to the indoor decks; 1.2–1.5 m pay a child fare of roughly half. Chinese ticket guides also list free entry for over-75s and concessions for 60–74s; we couldn't confirm whether foreign passports qualify.

**Buying as a foreigner.** Unofficially there are no ticket windows: sales are online and timed. The easiest route is Trip.com in English, paying with a foreign Visa or Mastercard and entering your passport details. The official channels are the tower's WeChat mini-program and website, which mostly expect WeChat Pay or Alipay. Both apps accept foreign cards once linked; Russian-issued cards don't work anywhere in China.

## Canton Tower opening hours

The tower opens **daily 9:30–22:30**, with last entry at 22:00 — five guides and Chinese ticket sites agree, though the official site couldn't be checked. The Bubble Tram and Sky Drop start at 10:00; on Mondays they open later (the Bubble Tram mid-afternoon, Sky Drop at noon), and on the last Monday of the month both run from 17:00 only.

The tower's lights come on at around 19:00 (unofficial). If you want daylight, sunset and the lights in one visit, book a slot that starts an hour before sunset, and check the sunset time for your date.

## What is Canton Tower?

Canton Tower is a **600 m** TV and sightseeing tower in Haizhu District, facing the Zhujiang New Town business district across the Pearl River. Its twisted steel lattice narrows to a 'waist' about 30 m wide, which earned it the nickname **小蛮腰, Xiaomanyao** — 'slim waist'. It opened in autumn 2010, just before Guangzhou hosted the Asian Games.

It was designed by the Amsterdam practice IBA (Mark Hemel and Barbara Kuit) with Arup as structural engineer. From 2009 it was the world's tallest tower, until Tokyo Skytree overtook it.

Our take: this is the best view of Guangzhou and one of the most exciting observation towers in southern China. But you're paying for height and rooftop rides; for old Guangzhou, go to [Shamian Island](https://yesgo.io/china/guangzhou/shamian-island) and the [Chen Clan Academy](https://yesgo.io/china/guangzhou/chen-clan-academy).

## What to see and do at the top

- **Indoor decks, 428–433 m** — glass all round: the river, Zhujiang New Town, Huacheng Square and the opera house opposite.
- **Open-air roof, 450 m** — no glass, just railings. The best place to see how the river splits the city.
- **Bubble Tram** — 16 glass cabins creep around the roof edge on a rail. Often called a Ferris wheel, it's really a circular track ride.
- **488 m deck** — the highest open-air point, once the highest outdoor observation deck in the world.
- **Sky Drop** — a free-fall ride down the mast, about 30 m in a few seconds. Not for anyone with a fear of heights or heart trouble.
- **Spider Walk** — an open-air staircase up the lattice between 168 and 334 m, over a thousand steps with glass sections. Only some tickets include it.
- **The light show** — after dark the whole tower changes colour and plays patterns; it's best seen from the north bank or a river boat.

## How to get to Canton Tower

1. From [Beijing Road](https://yesgo.io/china/guangzhou/beijing-road), walk to **Gongyuanqian** metro station (Lines 1 and 2) at the head of the pedestrian street.
2. Take Line 1 towards Guangzhou East Railway Station to the interchange at **Tiyu Xilu**.
3. Change to Line 3 towards Panyu Square or Haibang and ride two stops, via Zhujiang New Town, to **Canton Tower**. Allow about 30 minutes in all.
4. Use Exit A or B (guides disagree) and follow the 广州塔 signs — the tower base is a few minutes' walk.
5. From the north bank, the driverless **APM** line runs from Huacheng Square and the Opera House under the river to Canton Tower, at a flat ¥2.
6. The Haizhu Tram from Wanshengwei (Lines 4 and 8) also stops at Canton Tower. By taxi or DiDi, show the driver 广州塔.
7. From Baiyun Airport, take Line 3 from Airport North (Terminal 2) to Tiyu Xilu, then Line 3 to Canton Tower. Airport South station has been skipped since 7 May 2026, while Terminal 1 is closed for renovation.
8. At the gates, contactless foreign Visa or Mastercard cards work at marked gates (unofficial); Alipay's Guangzhou Metro QR code works too.

## Which Canton Tower ticket is right for you

|  | ¥150 | ¥228 | ¥298 | ¥398 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Highest point | 428–433 m, behind glass | + 450 m open roof | + Bubble Tram ride | + 488 m deck and Sky Drop |
| Time needed | ≈ 1 hour | ≈ 90 minutes | ≈ 2 hours with the tram queue | 2.5–3 hours |
| Best for | Rain, wind, older travellers | Most first-timers | Sunset, couples | Thrill-seekers |

All prices are unofficial list prices from three travel guides; a ¥328 tier adds the 488 m deck to the ¥228 ticket without the Bubble Tram. For comparison, Shanghai Tower's deck is indoors at 546 m — at Canton Tower your highest point is in the open air.

## Is Canton Tower worth it?

Yes, on a clear day, especially on a first trip to Guangzhou. From the roof the whole city opens up — the river, the low old districts to the west and the towers of Zhujiang New Town to the north — and the open-air deck and rooftop cabins are rarer than another glass box.

Skip it if the sky is grey or you've already done Shanghai or Hong Kong from above: on a murky day the tower looks better from below, from Huacheng Square or a river boat, for free or far less. And don't buy the top pass 'just in case' — the Sky Drop lasts seconds and the queue for it can be long.

> **Go up an hour before sunset** Book a slot about an hour before sunset: you'll see the city by day, the sun setting over the river and Zhujiang New Town lighting up. Then walk down to the pier at the foot of the tower — an evening cruise on the Pearl River is the natural next step. Check the air quality index before you book.

## Before you go

Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser.

- [ ] Passport with me — name matches the ticket
- [ ] Ticket bought online for the right time slot
- [ ] Clear sky, top of the tower not in cloud
- [ ] Decided whether the Bubble Tram is worth it
- [ ] Inside before 22:00
- [ ] Light jacket — it's windy on the roof
- [ ] Evening river cruise planned for afterwards

## Guangzhou viewpoints compared

Every Guangzhou place with a view from above that YesGo has scored.

- [Canton Tower](https://yesgo.io/china/guangzhou/canton-tower) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · From ¥150, under 1.2 m free
- [Pearl River](https://yesgo.io/china/guangzhou/pearl-river) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ ¥90–220 boat; riverside free
- [Guangzhou Opera House](https://yesgo.io/china/guangzhou/guangzhou-opera-house) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Tour ¥15; outside free
- [Yuexiu Park](https://yesgo.io/china/guangzhou/yuexiu-park) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Free; Zhenhai Tower ≈ ¥10
- [Baiyun Mountain](https://yesgo.io/china/guangzhou/baiyun-mountain) — YesGo score 25/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 3 h · ¥5 entry, cable car ¥25 up

## An evening by the river: opera house, tower and cruise

The opera house on the north bank by day, Canton Tower for sunset, then a Pearl River cruise and a late dinner on Beijing Road. Add it to your route and YesGo will work out the timings and transfers.

1. [Guangzhou Opera House](https://yesgo.io/china/guangzhou/guangzhou-opera-house) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · Tour ¥15; outside free
2. [Canton Tower](https://yesgo.io/china/guangzhou/canton-tower) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · From ¥150, under 1.2 m free
3. [Pearl River](https://yesgo.io/china/guangzhou/pearl-river) — YesGo score 43/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ ¥90–220 boat; riverside free
4. [Beijing Road](https://yesgo.io/china/guangzhou/beijing-road) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free

## Don't confuse

Canton Tower (广州塔) has nothing to do with the Canton Fair, which is held at the Pazhou exhibition complex further east on Line 8. And the skyscrapers across the river in Zhujiang New Town have their own observation floors and tickets — they're separate places.

## Tips

- For photos of the whole tower, go to Huacheng Square or Haixinsha Island on the north bank after dark, not up the tower itself.
- Want the tower outside your window? Look for hotels in Zhujiang New Town on the north bank, facing it across the river.
- Bring a light jacket for the 450 m roof — it's noticeably cooler and windier than at street level.
- On weekends and Chinese holidays, book the sunset slot two or three days ahead.
- Children are measured at the entrance: under 1.2 m free for the indoor decks, under 1.5 m child fare.
- Set up Alipay with a foreign card before you arrive — it pays for the metro and DiDi, and most places in China expect it.

## Questions

### How much are Canton Tower tickets?

From ¥150 for the indoor decks at 428–433 m; ¥228 with the 450 m open-air roof, ¥298 with the Bubble Tram and ¥398 for everything including Sky Drop. Children under 1.2 m go free to the indoor decks. These are unofficial list prices.

### What are Canton Tower's opening hours?

Unofficially daily 9:30–22:30, with last entry at 22:00. The Bubble Tram and Sky Drop open at 10:00, later on Mondays.

### How do foreigners buy Canton Tower tickets?

Online — unofficially there are no ticket windows. Trip.com in English with a foreign card and your passport details is the easiest; tickets are timed and real-name, so bring the passport.

### How do I get to Canton Tower by metro?

Take Line 3 or the APM to Canton Tower station. From Beijing Road: Line 1 from Gongyuanqian to Tiyu Xilu, then Line 3 two stops — about 30 minutes.

### Is the Bubble Tram worth it?

At sunset, yes: 16 glass cabins circle the roof edge in 20 minutes or more and the view changes all the way round. In haze or rain, save your money.

### How tall is Canton Tower?

600 m including the mast. The highest deck open to visitors is the outdoor platform at 488 m.

### How long do you need at Canton Tower?

About two hours for the decks and roof; up to three with a sunset Bubble Tram ride and its queue.

### When is the Canton Tower light show?

The lights come on at around 19:00 (unofficial). The best views of them are from Huacheng Square, Haixinsha Island or a Pearl River night cruise.

### Is Canton Tower higher than Shanghai Tower?

The structure is shorter (600 m against 632 m), and Shanghai Tower's indoor deck at 546 m is higher than any Canton Tower deck. But Canton Tower's 488 m deck is in the open air.

### Can I use Google Maps to find it?

Not without a VPN or roaming eSIM — Google services are blocked in China. Search 'Canton Tower' or 广州塔 in a local map app instead.

## How we checked

The tower's official website blocks automated requests and we didn't try to get round it, so all prices and hours are marked 'checking'. The ¥150, ¥228, ¥298, ¥328 and ¥398 list prices match on chinatravel.com and intotravelchina.com; Travel China Guide has ¥150, ¥228, ¥328 and ¥398, and the Chinese site bendibao lists ¥150 and ¥228 plus online deals from ¥135 and ¥283. Five sources agree on 9:30–22:30 with last entry at 22:00. Child and senior concessions come from two Chinese ticket guides; whether they apply to foreign passports is unconfirmed. Metro exit: Travel China Guide and chinatravel.com say A, chinafortravelers.com says B, so we give both. The Sky Drop's height differs between sources (480–485 m), so we leave it out. The opening date is 29 or 30 September 2010 in English Wikipedia and 1 October in Chinese Wikipedia, so we say 'autumn 2010'. Shanghai Tower's figures are from its YesGo page. Foreign-card payment at metro gates is from travel guides, not the operator.

## Sources

- Travel China Guide — levels, tickets, ride hours, metro and tram (updated 23 July 2026)
- chinatravel.com — ticket list with heights and prices, hours, lights, metro (updated 17 April 2026)
- intotravelchina.com — ticket list and prices
- chinafortravelers.com — timed real-name online tickets, buying as a foreigner, ride hours (updated 4 September 2026)
- m.gz.bendibao.com — tower listing: address, hours, prices and online deals (updated 28 July 2026)
- dahepiao.com — child and senior concessions, Bubble Tram hours (5 September and 29 October 2025)
- English, Russian and Chinese Wikipedia, 'Canton Tower'; Wikidata Q168400
- Wanderin China — Guangzhou metro guide: foreign cards at the gates, Alipay QR (8 September 2026)
- Guangzhou government portal gz.gov.cn — Baiyun Terminal 1 and Airport South station closure from 7 May 2026

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