At 50, Tokyo Tower basks in fading glory
China Daily | Updated: 2008-12-23 07:46
A symbol of Japan's post-war economic miracle, a favored backdrop for film directors and a romantic spot for young lovers: the Tokyo Tower, one of the city's most beloved landmarks, turns 50 today.
Modeled on Paris' Eiffel Tower, but painted in orange and white, the world's tallest self-supporting steel structure has attracted 156 million visitors since it opened on December 23, 1958.
And while thousands still visit the imposing 333-meter landmark every day, after five decades beaming radio and television across the capital, the tower has been overtaken by technology and the rising city around it. By 2012, the new 610-meter Tokyo Sky Tree tower is to take over broadcasts from the Tokyo Tower.
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