Located to the west of Xisanhuan Middle Road, China Central Radio and Television Tower (CCTV Tower) is close to Yuyuantan Park and Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. Construction began in January 1987. In 1994, the project was completed and the tower was open to the public on October 1st of the same year. Taking up an area of 15.4 hectares, it reaches 386.5 meters tall (1,268 feet) (1,329 feet, if the lightning rod is counted in.). The base of the tower covers an area of 12,143 sq meters (14,523 sq yards). Many rehearsal halls are built below the tower.
The sights of CCTV Tower
The square, the surrounding verandah, the tower foundation, the pedestal, the body, the turret, and the mast together constitute China Central Radio and Television Tower. Its pedestal imitates double-tiered roofs of ancient Chinese palaces, while its turret (689 feet above the ground) looks like a big palace lantern. When colored lights glow at night, China Central Radio and Television Tower is like a giant lantern.
Stone carved painting in the east hall
On the first floor of CCTV Tower, a gigantic stone carving is hanging on the wall of the East Hall, with 20 meters (22 yards) long, 8.7 meters (9.5 yards) wide and an area of 171.4 sq meters (205 sq yards). In the carving, you can see China's most distinctive mountains and rivers.
The Halls in the tower
Inside the tower, visitors can visit the revolving restaurant, indoor viewing hall, open-air sightseeing platform, and Liuyun (white cloud) Hall, each on different floors.
The revolving restaurant on the eighteenth floor can admit 250 people and features Chinese and Western-style buffets. It takes 80 minutes to make a full rotation. Visitors can enjoy the cuisine while viewing the city sights. The indoor viewing hall is on the nineteenth floor. The highest post office in Beijing is in this hall. You can buy postcards from the office and mail them with the postmark of the in-the-air post office. The open-air sightseeing platform on the twenty-second floor is 238 meters (781 feet) above the ground, and is believed to be the biggest one of its kind in the towers all over the world. Chang'an Avenue, the Summer Palace, and other places can be seen clearly from the platform. Liuyun Hall on the twenty–third floor is the venue of celebrations and recreational activities.
Taipingyang Underwater World Exhibition
This ocean park, constructed at the base of Central Broadcasting and TV Tower, is the home of hundreds of marine creatures. After visiting the tower, you can also have fun here.
Entrance Fee: CNY70
CNY90 for Taipingyang Underwater World Exhibition
CNY140 for Through Tickets of Beijing Landmark Tour, including the CCTV Tower, Beijing National Stadium, National Aquatics Center and National Centre for the Performing Arts; the ticket is valid for one month.
Transportation: By bus: take bus no.40, 64, 323, 374, 394, 624, 631, 809, 811, Yuntong 102, 103, 108 or 201 and get off at Space Bridge South Station.
By subway: take Subway Line 1 and get off at Gongzhufen Station, and walk north to Bayi Lake
Beijing Bus / Subway Search
Opening Hours: 08:30-22:00 (tickets before 21:30)
Further Reading - New CCTV Tower
The construction of the new CCTV Tower was launched in 2005 and open on September 2, 2008, on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of CCTV. This new headquarter building of China Central Television is located in northeast corner of Dongsanhuan Middle Road and Guanghua Road Cross, south of Chaoyang Road. A new landmark in Beijing CBD was born on the site of a motorcycle manufacturer.
The new headquarter was comprised of the main building, the cultural Center and accessory facilities. The skyscraper (main tower) stands at 230 meters (768 feet) high with 54 floors. This untraditional building was designed by a famous architect from Netherlands. The structure of the building is regarded as a challenge to usual construction. It is in radical shape, with a loop base of six horizontal and vertical sections, and two buildings joined together in the open air, like two twisted 'Z's. The building is nicknamed by local people, Dakucha (meaning big shorts). International broadcasting is undertaken by the new headquarter. CCTV cultural center fire before 2009 Chinese New Year made this creative controversial tower highly focused again. The burnt building back of the main tower is still standing over there.
Transportation: Southeast Exit of Jintaixizhao station of Subway Line 10, bus 707, 405 at Guanghuaqiao South.
