Tianjin Eye
Encyclopedia
Tianjin Eye is a 120 metres (394 ft) tall giant Ferris wheel
built above the Yongle Bridge (formerly Chihai Bridge), over the Hai River
in Tianjin
, China. It is claimed to be the only such wheel to have been constructed over a bridge.
Construction started in 2007, with completion of the main body on 18 December 2007, and the wheel opened to the public on 7 April 2008.
At the time of completion, only the 135 m (443 ft) London Eye
, 160 m (525 ft) Star of Nanchang
, and 165 m (541 ft) Singapore Flyer
were taller.
Tianjin Eye is one of four 120 m Ferris wheels in China, the other three being Changsha Ferris Wheel
(completed 2004), Suzhou Ferris Wheel
(completed 2009), and Zhengzhou Ferris Wheel
(completed 2003). The only Chinese Ferris wheel with a greater height is the 160 m (525 ft) Star of Nanchang
, which opened in 2006.
Tianjin Eye is electrically powered and has 48 passenger capsules, each able to carry 8 passengers, and takes 30 minutes to complete a rotation, giving a maximum capacity of 768 passengers per hour.
Ferris wheel
A Ferris wheel is a nonbuilding structure consisting of a rotating upright wheel with passenger cars attached to the rim in such a way that as the wheel turns, the cars are kept upright, usually by gravity.Some of the largest and most modern Ferris wheels have cars mounted on...
built above the Yongle Bridge (formerly Chihai Bridge), over the Hai River
Hai River
The Hai River , previously called Bai He , is a river in the People's Republic of China which flows through Beijing and Tianjin before emptying into the Yellow Sea at the Bohai Gulf.The Hai River at Tianjin is formed by the confluence of five rivers, the Southern Canal, Ziya...
in Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
, China. It is claimed to be the only such wheel to have been constructed over a bridge.
Construction started in 2007, with completion of the main body on 18 December 2007, and the wheel opened to the public on 7 April 2008.
At the time of completion, only the 135 m (443 ft) London Eye
London Eye
The London Eye is a tall giant Ferris wheel situated on the banks of the River Thames, in London, England.It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over 3.5 million people annually...
, 160 m (525 ft) Star of Nanchang
Star of Nanchang
The Star of Nanchang is a tall giant Ferris wheel located in the eastern Chinese city of Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi Province.The Star of Nanchang opened for business in May 2006, having cost 57 million Yuan to build...
, and 165 m (541 ft) Singapore Flyer
Singapore Flyer
The Singapore Flyer is a giant Ferris wheel located in Singapore, constructed in 2005–2008. Described by its operators as an observation wheel, it reaches 42 stories high, with a total height of , making it the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, taller than the Star of Nanchang and taller than...
were taller.
Tianjin Eye is one of four 120 m Ferris wheels in China, the other three being Changsha Ferris Wheel
Changsha Ferris Wheel
Changsha Ferris Wheel is a tall giant Ferris wheel in Changsha, Hunan, China.It was completed on September 30, 2004, and officially opened to the public on October 1, 2004...
(completed 2004), Suzhou Ferris Wheel
Suzhou Ferris Wheel
Suzhou Ferris Wheel is a tall giant Ferris wheel on the east bank of Jinji Lake in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China. It has 60 passenger cabins, a maximum capacity of 300 passengers, and takes approximately 20 minutes to complete each revolution....
(completed 2009), and Zhengzhou Ferris Wheel
Zhengzhou Ferris Wheel
Zhengzhou Ferris Wheel is a tall giant Ferris wheel at Century Amusement Park in Zhengzhou, Henan, China.When it was completed in 2003, Zhengzhou Ferris Wheel was the tallest Ferris wheel in China, and the second tallest in the world, after the London Eye...
(completed 2003). The only Chinese Ferris wheel with a greater height is the 160 m (525 ft) Star of Nanchang
Star of Nanchang
The Star of Nanchang is a tall giant Ferris wheel located in the eastern Chinese city of Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi Province.The Star of Nanchang opened for business in May 2006, having cost 57 million Yuan to build...
, which opened in 2006.
Tianjin Eye is electrically powered and has 48 passenger capsules, each able to carry 8 passengers, and takes 30 minutes to complete a rotation, giving a maximum capacity of 768 passengers per hour.