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Canton Tower's white lattice rising among skyscrapers above trees and calm water on a clear afternoon
City · Haizhu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong

Canton Tower & Pearl River

Guangzhou's 600 m twisting tower on the Pearl River, with Huaisheng Mosque in the old city (广州塔)

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Photo: Yue WU (@samuelwu) / Unsplash

Discover Canton Tower & Pearl River

Nicknamed the 'slim waist' for its twisting, narrow-waisted form, Canton Tower rises 600 m above the south bank of the Pearl River and is the defining landmark of modern Guangzhou. By day its white steel lattice stands out against the sky; after dark it glows in shifting colours, mirrored in the river alongside the towers of Zhujiang New Town.

From the observation levels near the top you can see the whole sweep of the city, and the rooftop has slowly circling transparent cabins for an even higher view. Down at river level, an evening cruise along the Pearl River is one of the classic ways to see Guangzhou lit up. For Muslim travellers, the city also holds one of China's oldest mosques, Huaisheng Mosque, in the historic centre north of the river.

Don’t miss

  1. 01Indoor observatory at 449 m and the open-air rooftop deck at 488 m
  2. 02Transparent cabins that slowly circle the rooftop rim
  3. 03The tower's colour-changing evening illumination over the Pearl River
  4. 04Evening Pearl River cruises past the lit skyline of Zhujiang New Town
  5. 05Huaisheng Mosque and its leaning Guangta minaret in the old city of Yuexiu District

History & culture

The story of Canton Tower & Pearl River

Canton Tower was designed by the Dutch practice Information Based Architecture, led by Mark Hemel and Barbara Kuit, with Arup as structural engineers. It was completed in 2010 and opened to the public on 1 October that year, ahead of the 16th Asian Games hosted by Guangzhou in November 2010. Its open-air rooftop observatory opened in December 2011.

Guangzhou itself, historically known to foreign traders as Canton, has been a gateway between China and the wider world for well over a thousand years. Arab and Persian merchants arrived by sea along the Maritime Silk Road, and Huaisheng Mosque, traditionally dated to 627 and associated with the Companion Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, is counted among the first mosques built in China. Its 36 m minaret, the Guangta or Light Tower, once served as a landmark for ships entering the port. Historians place the founding somewhat later, in the Tang or Song dynasty; the mosque was rebuilt in 1350 and again in 1695.

Local life & traditions

Guangzhou is the heartland of Cantonese culture, famous for dim sum and morning tea (yum cha), and its riverside is a favourite evening promenade for families. The city's long trading history has left a lasting international community: Arab, African and Asian traders, many linked to the Canton Fair, worship alongside local Hui and other Chinese Muslims, and the area around Huaisheng Mosque remains a focus of the city's Muslim life.

Things to do

Experience it like a local

Time a visit to the tower for late afternoon so you see the city in daylight and then watch the lights come on below. Afterwards, walk along the riverside or board an evening Pearl River cruise, which takes about 70 minutes and passes many of the city's illuminated landmarks.

The square across the river in Zhujiang New Town gives the classic ground-level view of the tower, and Haixinsha island and the riverside bridges are popular with photographers. Spend another half-day in the old city around Yuexiu District, where Huaisheng Mosque, traditional Cantonese teahouses and historic streets give a very different picture of Guangzhou.

When to go

October to December is the most comfortable period, with lower humidity, mostly dry weather and clearer skies for views from the tower. Spring can be misty and humid, and summer (May to September) is hot and very wet, with typhoons possible. The Canton Fair periods in spring and autumn make hotels busier and pricier. For the best photographs, aim for a clear evening and go up just before sunset.

Plan your visit

Verified information

Height
600 m; described as the tallest tower in China Source: gz.gov.cn ↗
Address
No. 222 Yuejiang Xi Road, Haizhu District, Guangzhou Source: gz.gov.cn ↗
Getting there
Guangzhou Metro Line 3, Canton Tower Station Source: gz.gov.cn ↗
Pearl River night cruise
About 70 minutes; the most used pier is Dashatou Pier, No. 466 Yanjiang Dong Road, Yuexiu District (Metro Line 6, Donghu Station, Exit A) Source: gz.gov.cn ↗
Huaisheng Mosque
No. 56 Guangta Lu, Yuexiu District; Metro Line 1, Ximenkou Station, Exit B; the Guangzhou government visitor page states it now opens only to Muslims Source: gz.gov.cn ↗

Checked against the sources on 27 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.

Travel tips

  • Check the forecast and visibility before buying tower tickets; haze can limit the view.
  • Go up in the late afternoon to see the city by day, at sunset and after dark in one visit.
  • Huaisheng Mosque is a working place of worship; non-Muslim visitors should not expect to enter, and Muslim visitors should dress modestly and check prayer times locally.
  • Summer brings heavy rain and occasional typhoons; keep plans flexible.
  • Allow time for Cantonese morning tea in the old city; Muslim travellers should ask locally for halal options near the mosque.

General guidance from our specialists, not official information.

Around Canton Tower & Pearl River: food, markets & places to stay

Zhujiang New Town across the river has the city's main cultural buildings, malls and the riverside square facing the tower. The old city in Yuexiu District, home to Huaisheng Mosque on Guangta Road, has traditional streets and teahouses; ask at the mosque or locally for halal restaurants nearby. Dashatou Pier is a common starting point for evening river cruises.

Where Canton Tower & Pearl River is

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Canton Tower & Pearl River in pictures

Pairs well with

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Sources & verification

This guide was researched from the sources below and reviewed by our team on 27 October 2026. Facts under “Verified information” link to the page they were checked on; travel tips are general guidance. Photos are credited on each image. The ambient recording’s author and licence are shown in the sound player.

  1. Top sights: Canton Tower and Pearl River Night Cruise — Guangzhou Municipal People's Government (gz.gov.cn)
  2. Canton Tower — Wikipedia
  3. Huaisheng Mosque — Guangzhou Municipal People's Government (gz.gov.cn)
  4. Islam in Guangzhou — Guangzhou Municipal People's Government (gz.gov.cn)
  5. Huaisheng Mosque — Wikipedia

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