China: Moment Of Iconic Canton Tower Struck By Lightning Captured

On August 29, 2024, in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, a striking moment was captured during a stormy night. Under a slightly purple-tinted sky, a single bright lightning bolt suddenly struck, hitting the top of the iconic Canton Tower perfectly.   The scene was both awe-inspiring and dramatic, with the lightning illuminating the dark sky as it connected with the tower, known as ""Xiao Man Yao"" (Slim Waist).   Interestingly, Canton Tower is designed to function as a lightning rod, making the event a natural occurrence despite its spectacular appearance.

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

SHENZHEN, CHINA - DECEMBER 27, 2019 - View of Canton Tower in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China, December 27, 2019.

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

SHENZHEN, CHINA - DECEMBER 27, 2019 - View of Canton Tower in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China, December 27, 2019.

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

SHENZHEN, CHINA - DECEMBER 27, 2019 - View of Canton Tower in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China, December 27, 2019.

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

SHENZHEN, CHINA - DECEMBER 27, 2019 - View of Canton Tower in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China, December 27, 2019.

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

SHENZHEN, CHINA - DECEMBER 27, 2019 - View of Canton Tower in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China, December 27, 2019.

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

SHENZHEN, CHINA - DECEMBER 27, 2019 - View of Canton Tower in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China, December 27, 2019.

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

SHENZHEN, CHINA - DECEMBER 27, 2019 - View of Canton Tower in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China, December 27, 2019.

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

SHENZHEN, CHINA - DECEMBER 27, 2019 - View of Canton Tower in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China, December 27, 2019.

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

SHENZHEN, CHINA - DECEMBER 27, 2019 - View of Canton Tower in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China, December 27, 2019.

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

SHENZHEN, CHINA - DECEMBER 27, 2019 - View of Canton Tower in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China, December 27, 2019.

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

SHENZHEN, CHINA - DECEMBER 27, 2019 - View of Canton Tower in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China, December 27, 2019.

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

SHENZHEN, CHINA - DECEMBER 27, 2019 - View of Canton Tower in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China, December 27, 2019.

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

GUANGZHOU, CHINA - FEBRUARY 16, 2024 - (FILE) Photo taken on Feb 16, 2024 shows the illuminated Canton Tower on both sides of the Pearl River in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China.

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

Canton Tower in Guangzhou

GUANGZHOU, CHINA - FEBRUARY 16, 2024 - (FILE) Photo taken on Feb 16, 2024 shows the illuminated Canton Tower on both sides of the Pearl River in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China.

Canton Tower Light Show in Guangzhou

Canton Tower Light Show in Guangzhou

GUANGZHOU, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 29, 2018 - A night view of the landmark Canton Tower light show in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China, Sept 29, 2018. Guangzhou Tower is the first tower in China and the fourth tallest tower in the world, with a total height of 600 meters.

Canton Tower Light Show in Guangzhou

Canton Tower Light Show in Guangzhou

GUANGZHOU, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 29, 2018 - A night view of the landmark Canton Tower light show in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China, Sept 29, 2018. Guangzhou Tower is the first tower in China and the fourth tallest tower in the world, with a total height of 600 meters.

Canton Tower Light Show in Guangzhou

Canton Tower Light Show in Guangzhou

GUANGZHOU, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 29, 2018 - A night view of the landmark Canton Tower light show in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China, Sept 29, 2018. Guangzhou Tower is the first tower in China and the fourth tallest tower in the world, with a total height of 600 meters.

Canton Tower Light Show in Guangzhou

Canton Tower Light Show in Guangzhou

GUANGZHOU, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 30, 2018 - A view of the landmark Canton Tower in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China, Sept 29, 2018. Guangzhou Tower is the first tower in China and the fourth tallest tower in the world, with a total height of 600 meters.

CHINA-GUANGDONG-GUANGZHOU-CULTURE (CN)

CHINA-GUANGDONG-GUANGZHOU-CULTURE (CN)

(230616) -- GUANGZHOU, June 16, 2023 (Xinhua) -- People enjoy sunset inside a ferris wheel at Canton Tower in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Aug. 7, 2022. Guangzhou has a history of more than 2,000 years. The city has been a place of cultural integration between Chinese and foreign cultures since ancient times. It has manifested the openness and inclusiveness involved with Chinese culture. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

XINHUA-PICTURES OF THE YEAR 2022-CHINA NEWS

XINHUA-PICTURES OF THE YEAR 2022-CHINA NEWS

(230110) -- BEIJING, Jan. 10, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Tourists ride a ferris wheel at the top of the Canton Tower, a landmark in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Aug. 7, 2022. Tourist attractions that blend modernity with history are gaining popularity among visitors to Guangzhou, one of the top summer travel destinations in China. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

CHINA-PAN-PEARL RIVER DELTA REGION-SCENERY (CN)

CHINA-PAN-PEARL RIVER DELTA REGION-SCENERY (CN)

(221004) -- GUANGZHOU, Oct. 4, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken at the top of the Canton Tower, a landmark in Guangzhou, on Aug. 7, 2022 shows the Pearl River running through downtown of Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

CHINA-PAN-PEARL RIVER DELTA REGION-SCENERY (CN)

CHINA-PAN-PEARL RIVER DELTA REGION-SCENERY (CN)

(221004) -- GUANGZHOU, Oct. 4, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken at the top of the Canton Tower, a landmark in Guangzhou, on Aug. 7, 2022 shows the Pearl River running through downtown of Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

CHINA-GUANGDONG-GUANGZHOU-TOURISM (CN)

CHINA-GUANGDONG-GUANGZHOU-TOURISM (CN)

(220808) -- GUANGZHOU, Aug. 8, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Tourists visit a lookout deck at the top of the Canton Tower, a landmark in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Aug. 7, 2022. Tourist attractions that blend modernity with history are gaining popularity among visitors to Guangzhou, one of the top summer travel destinations in China. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

CHINA-GUANGDONG-GUANGZHOU-TOURISM (CN)

CHINA-GUANGDONG-GUANGZHOU-TOURISM (CN)

(220808) -- GUANGZHOU, Aug. 8, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Tourists visit a lookout deck at the top of the Canton Tower, a landmark in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Aug. 7, 2022. Tourist attractions that blend modernity with history are gaining popularity among visitors to Guangzhou, one of the top summer travel destinations in China. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

CHINA-GUANGDONG-GUANGZHOU-TOURISM (CN)

CHINA-GUANGDONG-GUANGZHOU-TOURISM (CN)

(220808) -- GUANGZHOU, Aug. 8, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Tourists ride a ferris wheel at the top of the Canton Tower, a landmark in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Aug. 7, 2022. Tourist attractions that blend modernity with history are gaining popularity among visitors to Guangzhou, one of the top summer travel destinations in China. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

CHINA-GUANGDONG-GUANGZHOU-TOURISM (CN)

CHINA-GUANGDONG-GUANGZHOU-TOURISM (CN)

(220808) -- GUANGZHOU, Aug. 8, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Tourists ride a ferris wheel at the top of the Canton Tower, a landmark in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Aug. 7, 2022. Tourist attractions that blend modernity with history are gaining popularity among visitors to Guangzhou, one of the top summer travel destinations in China. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

CHINA-GUANGDONG-GUANGZHOU-TOURISM (CN)

CHINA-GUANGDONG-GUANGZHOU-TOURISM (CN)

(220808) -- GUANGZHOU, Aug. 8, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Tourists ride a ferris wheel at the top of the Canton Tower, a landmark in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Aug. 7, 2022. Tourist attractions that blend modernity with history are gaining popularity among visitors to Guangzhou, one of the top summer travel destinations in China. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

CHINA-GUANGDONG-GUANGZHOU-TOURISM (CN)

CHINA-GUANGDONG-GUANGZHOU-TOURISM (CN)

(220808) -- GUANGZHOU, Aug. 8, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Panoramic photo taken on Aug. 7, 2022 shows tourists visiting a lookout deck at the top of the Canton Tower, a landmark in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. Tourist attractions that blend modernity with history are gaining popularity among visitors to Guangzhou, one of the top summer travel destinations in China. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

Chinese embrace digital yuan as China further promotes pilot program

STORY: Chinese embrace digital yuan as China further promotes pilot program DATELINE: May 14, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:42 LOCATION: GUANGZHOU, China CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: STANDUP(English): YE TING, Xinhua correspondentSOUNDBITE 1(Chinese):LIU YIYING, Manager of Canton Tower Tourism Culture Co.various of GuangzhouSOUNDBITE 2(Chinese): MS. ZHANG, Touristvarious of Guangzhou STORYLINE: China has stepped up efforts to promote the digital yuan with pilot programs. Since 2017, the country has tested the use of the digital yuan in a number of cities, including Guangzhou. STANDUP(English): YE TING, Xinhua correspondent "We are now in the Canton Tower. As China keeps promoting its digital fiat currency, we can use the digital yuan in restaurants, vending machines, stores, and even in the tramcars. Let's have a look. I'm about to enter the station. I have already downloaded the digital yuan application. I can simply use the QR code to take the trams." SOUNDBITE 1(Chinese):LIU YIYING, Manager of Canton Tower Tourism