Canton Tower

Canton Tower is one of Guangzhou's defining landmarks and, at 604 metres (1,982 ft), remains one of the tallest towers in the world. Even if you do not go to the top, chances are you will spot it repeatedly during your time in Guangzhou. The main observation levels sit around 450 metres (1,500 ft) above the city, with both indoor and outdoor viewing areas. The outdoor deck is home to the Bubble Tram — small transparent pods that slowly circle the edge of the tower high above Guangzhou, and one of the tower's more unique experiences. If that still does not feel high enough, you can pay extra to go even higher to a small observation area near the top of the tower. Day and night visits feel completely different. On a clear day you can see across Guangzhou and beyond, giving a real sense of the scale of the city. At night the skyline transforms into a sea of lights, with Zhujiang New Town and the Pearl River especially standing out. There are three restaurants near the top of the tower, including Chinese fine dining, French cuisine, and a Mediterranean buffet. They are far from the best restaurants in Guangzhou and are not particularly good value for money — but the views from the revolving restaurants are hard to beat. One final thing: Guangzhou locals often enjoy Canton Tower as much from a distance as from the top. Its changing colours and lighting make it one of the city's defining features after dark.