Toronto is a global city and a vital economic hub of Canada. It boasts an impressive cityscape, including the CN Tower, one of the modern wonders of the world and the second-tallest building globally; the beautiful and charming Lake Ontario; a waterfront corridor stretching for miles; and numerous masterpieces left by world-renowned architects. The continuous influx of Canadian immigrants has created a rich and diverse ethnic character, making Toronto vibrant and infinitely charming. Here, 49% of local residents are immigrants from over 100 ethnic groups around the world. More than 140 languages converge in this North American metropolis, composing a beautiful and harmonious symphony that forms a series of splendid urban landscapes.
CN Tower
Standing in the heart of downtown Toronto, the CN Tower (Canada National Tower) is the city's iconic landmark. It is not only one of Canada's top ten landscapes but also the world's tallest free-standing structure. The tower is 553.3 meters high and was built in 1976. It has 147 floors, and its disc-shaped observation deck looks like a flying saucer from a distance, standing by the Toronto harbor. From the top, you can enjoy the most complete view of the Toronto cityscape. The tower attracts two million visitors annually and is a must-visit destination for tourists in Toronto.
Taking an elevator with a speed of 22 km/h, you can reach the observation deck at 346 meters, approximately 113 floors high, in less than a minute. There, you will find a revolving restaurant, an indoor playground, and an outdoor observation deck where you can breathe fresh air. Standing on the observation deck, the scenery of Toronto is unobstructed and pleasing to the eye. The most unique feature of the tower is the glass floor built on the observation deck. This fan-shaped glass floor makes almost every visitor who attempts to walk across it feel nervous. Looking down at the tiny, ant-like ground scenery through the glass is even more thrilling. However, many adventurers still walk on it to fulfill their wish and take in all the views.
From the observation deck, you can go up one more level to the SkyPod, which is 443 meters high and serves as the base of the white needle of the CN Tower. In addition to overlooking the panoramic view of Toronto, it is said that on a clear day, you can even see Niagara Falls and Manchester in New York State, USA. However, this area is only open when wind speeds are low. Tall buildings always evoke a desire to conquer, and the CN Tower is no exception. The CN Tower has a total of 1,776 steps, and every autumn, a stair-climbing competition is held here to raise funds for charity. Because the CN Tower is located in downtown Toronto, it can be reached by car, subway, or bus. You don't have to worry about not finding such a tall building, as you can see where it is from far away.
Casa Loma
Casa Loma is a striking building in the city center. It is the earliest castle in Canada. Being there feels like traveling back in time, and you can deeply feel the elegance and magnificence of a European ancient castle. It was once the private residence of Sir Henry Pellatt, a famous Canadian financier, industrialist, and military officer. Later, it was used as a hotel and a nightclub, but both struggled to cover property taxes. After the government took over, parts were used as a school, a museum, and a nursing home for veterans. Although visitors are now charged an admission fee, the daily expenses of the castle still rely on social donations and a large amount of volunteer work. Many volunteers often work at Casa Loma. A medal hanging in a room on the second floor can be considered recognition of the contributions made by the many unsung, enthusiastic service workers who have not received awards for their work at this famous Toronto attraction.
Royal Ontario Museum
The Royal Ontario Museum is located in the city center, right next to major traffic arteries. The interior of the museum's roof is composed of special patterns combined with an arched ceiling, which is very unique. The new exhibition hall, completed in 2006, is even more peculiar. In fact, many experts say the design of the new hall looks more exaggerated than an art gallery. It displays not only artworks but also biology, dinosaurs, and more. Some say that instead of calling it a museum, it should be called an "education center," because next to the animal specimens, there are explanations describing how these animals have been persecuted by humans and what crises the environment has faced due to human activities. It is said to be the overseas museum with the largest collection of Chinese artifacts. In the Chinese exhibition hall, you can see many Chinese cultural relics, which cannot help but make one sigh. It leaves Chinese visitors feeling a sense of shame and anger while marveling at the wisdom of their ancestors. What is surprising is that the museum houses the entire tomb of Zu Dashou, a first-rank official from the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. In recent years, historical TV series about the Ming and Qing dynasties have been popular in China, and the name Zu Dashou has returned to the lives of ordinary people through these series. Who would have thought that his tomb would be completely excavated and sent abroad for exhibition as a specimen of a Ming tomb for people to appreciate? Two stone archways, a pair of stone figures, a pair of stone tigers, and a high-arched tomb make one feel as if they are in a field base. Although the museum classifies Zu Dashou's tomb as a Ming tomb, he actually died in the early Qing Dynasty, so whether it is a Ming or Qing tomb remains a matter of debate.
Eaton Centre
The Eaton Centre is a massive, multi-functional integrated shopping mall. It is no exaggeration to call it massive; two subway stations in downtown Toronto (Queen Station and Dundas Station) are built inside it, making it a great place for tourists to shop in Toronto. The Eaton Centre is a comprehensive commercial building that combines ground and underground levels, with several floors above and below ground, and three office buildings of over 30 stories each built at both ends and in the middle. There are over 300 merchants operating in this shopping center, as well as countless companies working in the office buildings.
The Toronto Eaton Centre has a service center that provides on-site cash tax refunds. Foreign tourists can skip the originally complicated tax refund application process and receive immediate cash refunds for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the Ontario Provincial Sales Tax (PST). A transparent pedestrian bridge connects the Eaton Centre with another shopping paradise—The Bay, the oldest and arguably the largest department store in Canada—forming an integrated whole, which greatly expands the shopping space for tourists.
