CCTV Tower

The Beijing TV Tower in Haidian District stands 405 metres tall, making it one of the highest structures in the Chinese capital. It was completed in 1992 - during a phase when the Peoples Republic was systematically building modernisation symbols - and is owned by the state broadcaster CCTV. It should not be confused with the later Rem Koolhaas-designed CCTV Headquarters in the Guomao business district. The classic tower has an observation deck at around 238 metres and a revolving restaurant that offers a slow 360-degree view of Beijing - reaching as far as the western mountains on clear days. Beijings air quality, however, often limits the view.