Tower sights in China
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Peak Tower
The anvil-shaped Peak Tower, with its attractions, shops and restaurants, is a good place to bring the kids and makes a good grandstand for many of the best views of the city and harbour. On Level 4 there’s an outpost of Madame Tussauds, with eerie (and often creepy) wax likenesses of international stars, as well as local celebrities such as Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Michelle Yeoh and Kelly Chen. There is an open-air viewing terrace with coin-operated binoculars on Level 5.
reviewed
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Oriental Pearl Tv Tower
Love it or hate it, this 468m-tall bauble-adorned tripod has become a symbol of Pudong and the Shanghai renaissance. Join the queue for high-altitude views or head to the basement to visit the highly recommended Shanghai History Museum.
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Two IFC
The two tapering, pearl-coloured colossi of One IFC and Two IFC sit atop the International Finance Centre (IFC) Mall and Hong Kong station, terminus of the Airport Express and the Tung Chung lines. Both were partly designed by Cesar Pelli, the man responsible for Canary Wharf in London. One IFC, which opened in 1999, is a ‘mere’ 39 levels tall. At 88 storeys, Two IFC was until recently Hong Kong’s tallest (though not prettiest) building. Given the local penchant for bestowing nicknames on everything, Two IFC has been christened ‘Sir YK Pao’s Erection’, a reference to the owner of the company that built the tower. The claimant to the title of Hong Kong’s tallest buildi…
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One & Two International Finance Centre
These two tapering, pearl-coloured colossi sit atop the International Finance Centre (IFC) Mall and Hong Kong station, terminus of the Airport Express and the Tung Chung lines. Both were partly designed by Cesar Pelli, the man responsible for Canary Wharf in London. One IFC, which opened in 1999, is a ‘mere’ 39 levels tall. At 88 storeys, Two IFC was until recently Hong Kong’s tallest (though not prettiest) building. Given the local penchant for bestowing nicknames on everything, Two IFC has been christened ‘Sir YK Pao’s Erection’, a reference to the owner of the company that built the tower. The claimant to the title of Hong Kong’s tallest building now looms across t…
reviewed
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Bank of China Tower
The Bank of China (BOC) is headquartered in the awesome Bank of China Tower to the southeast of its old home (the Old Bank of China building at 1 Bank St). The tower was designed by Chinese-born American architect IM Pei and completed in 1990. This 70-storey building is Hong Kong’s third-tallest structure after Two International Finance Centre in Central and Central Plaza in Wan Chai. The asymmetry of the building is puzzling at first glance, but it’s really a simple geometric exercise. Rising from the ground like a cube, it is successively reduced, quarter by quarter, until the south-facing side is left to rise upward on its own. Many local Hong Kong Chinese see the buil…
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Central Plaza
At just under 374m, Central Plaza, which was completed in 1992, is just 3m shorter than the newer Two IFC tower. The glass skin of the tower has three different colours – gold, silver and terracotta – and the overall impression is rather garish. Central Plaza functions as one of the world’s biggest clocks. There’s method to the madness of the four lines of light shining through the glass pyramid at the top of the building between 6pm and midnight. The bottom level indicates the hour: red is 6pm, white 7pm, purple 8pm, yellow 9pm, pink 10pm and green 11pm. When all four lights are the same colour, it’s right on the hour. When the top light is different from the bottom ones…
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Exchange Square
West of Jardine House, this complex of three elevated office towers is home to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and a number of businesses and offices. The main draw for visitors is the attractive and relatively peaceful open-air space, featuring fountains and sculptures including Henry Moore’s Single Oval, bronzes by Dame Elizabeth Frink and Taiwanese artist Ju Ming’s memorable t’ai chi sculpture. Access is via a network of overhead pedestrian walkways stretching west to Sheung Wan and linked to many of the buildings on the other side of Connaught Rd. The ground level of the 52-storey Towers I and II is given over to the Central bus and minibus terminus.
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Little Goose Pagoda
The Little Goose Pagoda is in the pleasant grounds of Jianfu Temple. The top of the pagoda was shaken off by an earthquake in the middle of the 16th century, but the rest of the 43m-high structure is intact.
Jianfu Temple was originally built in AD 684 to bless the afterlife of the late Emperor Gaozong. The pagoda, a rather delicate building of 15 progressively smaller tiers, was built from AD 707-709 and housed Buddhist scriptures brought back from India by the pilgrim Yi Jing.
You can mount the pagoda for a worthy panorama of Xī'ān.
Bus 610 runs here from the Bell Tower; from the South Gate take bus 203.
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Tomorrow Square
This stupendous tower – designed by John Portman & Associates and completed in 2003 – seizes the Shànghǎi zeitgeist with dramatic aplomb. Resembling a sci-fi corporation headquarters, the stratospheric building is given further lift by the stylistic awkwardness of nearby rivals: chiefly the Radisson Hotel Shanghai New World, which looks like a gigantic UFO has swivelled down from the sky to screw itself onto its roof. Tomorrow Sq houses Shànghǎi’s highest serviced apartments while the foyer of the JW Marriott Tomorrow Square debuts on the 38th floor. Pop up to put People’s Sq in the proper perspective.
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Peak Galleria
Designed to withstand winds of up to 270km/h, theoretically more than the maximum velocity of a No 10 typhoon, this building is worth skipping unless you’re after refreshments. You can reach the Peak Galleria’s viewing deck, which is larger than the one in the Peak Tower, by taking the escalator to Level 3. Inside the centre you’ll find a number of retail shops, from art galleries to duty-free stores. If you wish to eat, you’ll find that prices are high and the quality low, as restaurants don’t have to try too hard to find custom at this top visitor spot.
reviewed
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Sun Pagoda
Octagonal seven-storey Moon Pagoda (Yuè Tǎ) is connected to Sun Pagoda - the world's tallest copper pagoda - by an underwater tunnel. Constructed from a staggering 350 tons of copper (don't climb during lightning storms unless you want to be truly illuminated), the 41m-high Sun Pagoda has nine floors and must be one of the world's few pagodas equipped with a lift. Artful Chinese gǔzhēng(zither) performances are held in the choicely positioned teahouse near the base of Sun Pagoda.
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Moon Pagoda
Octagonal seven-storey Moon Pagoda is connected to Sun Pagoda (Rì Tǎ) - the world's tallest copper pagoda - by an underwater tunnel. Constructed from a staggering 350 tons of copper (don't climb during lightning storms unless you want to be truly illuminated), the 41m-high Sun Pagoda has nine floors and must be one of the world's few pagodas equipped with a lift. Artful Chinese gǔzhēng(zither) performances are held in the choicely positioned teahouse near the base of Sun Pagoda.
reviewed
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One IFC
These two tapering, pearl-coloured colossi of One IFC and Two IFC sit atop the International Finance Centre (IFC) Mall and Hong Kong station, terminus of the Airport Express and the Tung Chung lines. Both were partly designed by Cesar Pelli, the man responsible for Canary Wharf in London. One IFC, which opened in 1999, is a ‘mere’ 39 levels tall. At 88 storeys, Two IFC was until recently Hong Kong’s tallest (though not prettiest) building.
reviewed
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Southeast Watchtower
This Ming-era watchtower has 144 archer windows but is also notable for the ‘I was here’ graffiti left by iternational troops during the 1900 Boxer Rebellion. On the tower’s 2nd floor there are historical exhibits about Chongwen district. With the admission ticket, you’re allowed to walk the 100m stretch of old city wall attached to the tower.
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Minsheng Bank Building
Though there are scores of reminders of its past, Wǔhàn, like China at large, has at all times one eye - and usually two - firmly fixed on the present. Currently the world's 18th-tallest building, the stunning 331m-high Minsheng Bank Building generated controversy with experts warning that the soft geology of Wuhan was unsuited to such a towering edifice.
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Jinmao Tower
Rising above the clouds, the splendid Jinmao stands beside the shimmering Shanghai World Financial Center like an art-deco pagoda. Shoot to the 88th-floor observation deck to put Shanghai in a splendid nutshell. Time your visit at dusk for both day and night views. Alternatively, sample the same view through the carbonated fizz of a gin and tonic at Cloud 9.
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Drum Tower
While the Bell Tower originally held a bell that was rung at dawn, the Drum Tower marked nightfall. It too dates from the 14th century and was later rebuilt in the 1700s. Musical performances are held inside from 09:00 to 11:30 and 14:30 to 17:30. Close by, a covered market sells dried fruits and delicious cakes.
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Bell Tower
The Bell Tower originally held a large bell that was rung at dawn; it dates from the 14th century and was later rebuilt in the 1700s. Initially it stood two blocks to the west. Musical performances are held inside from 09:00 to 11:30 and 14:30 to 17:30. It is entered through the underpass on the north side.
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Drum Tower
Built in 1382, the tower lies roughly in the centre of Nánjīng, on a grassy roundabout. Drums were usually beaten to give directions for the change of the night watches and, in rare instances, to warn the populace of impending danger. Only one large drum remains today.
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Drum Tower
Dominating the area, the drum tower provides a great view over the nearby hutong rooftops. The drums were beaten here hourly in ancient times to keep the proles punctual.
reviewed
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Baochu Pagoda
The Baochu Pagoda, or 'Precious Stone' pagoda, looks out over the northeastern shore of the West Lake. Originally built in the 9th century, its current renovation dates to 1933.
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Round Viewing Pavilion
Copious English signs steer you around Seven Stars Park to the major sights, but you could head up to Round Viewing Pavilion to get your bearings and a view of the park.
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City Tower
Tallest building in the old town. Climb its smooth stone steps for fine views over Píngyáo's magnificent rooftops and inspect its ragged and forlorn shrine to a severe-looking Guandi.
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Canton Tower
The world's tallest TV tower (610m) is in Hǎizhū, immediately opposite Zhujiang New Town. Facilities include a rooftop observation deck, revolving restaurants and 4D cinemas.
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