The year 2025 marks the 15th anniversary of the Canton Tower's opening. On July 15, Dutch architects Mark Hemel and Barbara Kuit, the couple behind the tower's design, returned to Guangzhou, accompanied by their family. During their visit, they spoke with local media to reflect on the creative vision that shaped one of China's most recognizable landmarks.
Completed in 2010 and rising 600 meters above the Pearl River, the Canton Tower has become a defining feature of Guangzhou's skyline. Its signature twisting silhouette earned it the nickname "Xiaomanyao," or "Slim Waist," a name affectionately given by locals for its resemblance to a graceful female form.
"We were studying in the beginning and found that many TV towers are very masculine and hard," said Kuit. "We wanted to create something more gentle and pleasant for the city, maybe something with a turn in it."
When asked whether the tower's shape was intentionally modeled after the human form, Kuit said its resemblance was "perhaps partly unconscious."
Reflecting on the project's origins, Hemel added: "It was 2004… China was growing, becoming stronger, and exploring the world. We wanted the shape of the tower to reflect that, to be dynamic, exciting, and beautiful at the same time."
"When you go from the bottom of the tower, it's first wide and strong and stable. Then you move to narrower sections that evoke the excitement of it becoming denser, like a forest. Then you reach the top again, and it opens up and feels lighter. There, you also need more space," the architects explained how the tower's twisting shape reflects a dynamic nature, which, as Hemel describes, embodies "the spirit of the city" that he wanted to convey in his design.
Reporter | Chen Siyuan
Video | Chen Siyuan
Poster | Chen Siyuan
Editor | Hu Nan, James, Shen He
