The Guangzhou TV Tower, which is expected to soar between 580-600 metres above ground, will surpass the present record holder, the 553-metre CN Tower in Toronto, built in 1976.

Located on the banks of the Pearl River, the new TV tower will occupy 84,880 square metres in the city's premier business district of Tianhe.

Thirteen domestic and overseas companies have been bidding for the right to design the landmark structure in Guangdong Province with the shortlist now down to three.

Huang Jiatian, deputy director at the Headquarters for the Construction of the Guangzhou New TV Tower, said the companies were Arup Qualification of Britain, Architecture Studio of France and Leon Wohl Hage Wernik of Germany.

``We haven't decided on the design of the tower yet so the project may be delayed a bit but we expect the project to be open to tourists by 2008,'' Huang said.

``The TV tower will be a symbol of Guangzhou, a tourist attraction combining cultural and entertainment facilities.'' The reason for the height was primarily related to the television transmitter, he added.

An official surnamed Luo from the Construction Committee of Guangzhou said about 200 families will have to be moved to make way for the project.

According to the China Daily, the project will cost more than 1.5 billion yuan (HK$1.41 billion).

The tower will include sky gardens, bars and other tourist facilities and be illuminated at night.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE