Beijing Great Wheel
Encyclopedia
The Beijing Great Wheel is a 208 metres (682 ft) tall giant Ferris wheel
project. Located in eastern Beijing
's Chaoyang Park
, one of the 2008 Summer Olympics
venues, its planned height exceeds that of the current world's tallest Ferris wheel record holder, the 165 m (541 ft) Singapore Flyer
.
The Great Wheel Corporation
originally forecast the wheel would start turning on August 1, 2008, one week in advance of the Beijing-hosted 2008 Summer Olympics
. In 2007, Chinese state media reported that construction had begun, with completion delayed until 2009 due to design issues. Completion was subsequently rescheduled for 2010.
On 3 May 2010 it was reported that Great Beijing Wheel Co., the company set up to build the wheel, had gone into receivership
after breaching the conditions of a loan, with Ferrier Hodgson
and Zolfo Cooper appointed as administrative receivers. Construction work has been stopped since then.
It would be rotated by four drive units, each capable of producing over 16 million lb-ft of torque. Each unit comprises a pair of hydraulic drive modules, each module containing a hydraulic power unit driving four hydraulic motors. Each of the 32 hydraulic motors powers a planetary gearbox which drives rubber tyres against the wheel's circumferential rim.
An automated boarding system would enable the wheel to rotate continuously while passengers board and disembark the capsules via electric feeder vehicles.
It is expected that, on a clear sunny day, passengers would be able to see the Great Wall of China
in the mountains to Beijing's north.
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...
project. Located in eastern Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
's Chaoyang Park
Chaoyang Park
Beijing Chaoyang Park is a park located on the site of the former Prince's Palace in Beijing's Chaoyang District.The park's construction began in 1984 with it eventually growing to become Beijing's largest park. It is approximately 2.8 km in length and approximately 1.5 km in width. It has a total...
, one of the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
venues, its planned height exceeds that of the current world's tallest Ferris wheel record holder, the 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...
.
The Great Wheel Corporation
Great Wheel Corporation
Great Wheel Corporation is a company engaged in the development, building, financing, and operation of observation platforms and observation wheels ....
originally forecast the wheel would start turning on August 1, 2008, one week in advance of the Beijing-hosted 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
. In 2007, Chinese state media reported that construction had begun, with completion delayed until 2009 due to design issues. Completion was subsequently rescheduled for 2010.
On 3 May 2010 it was reported that Great Beijing Wheel Co., the company set up to build the wheel, had gone into receivership
Receivership
In law, receivership is the situation in which an institution or enterprise is being held by a receiver, a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights." The receivership remedy is an equitable remedy that emerged in...
after breaching the conditions of a loan, with Ferrier Hodgson
Ferrier Hodgson
Ferrier Hodgson is a group of Accounting firms specialising in Insolvency in the Australian and Asia Pacific region, with offices in all major capital cities in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Japan...
and Zolfo Cooper appointed as administrative receivers. Construction work has been stopped since then.
Design
If completed, the wheel would have a diameter of 198 m (650 ft), and each of its 48 air conditioned observation capsules would be able to carry up to 40 passengers.It would be rotated by four drive units, each capable of producing over 16 million lb-ft of torque. Each unit comprises a pair of hydraulic drive modules, each module containing a hydraulic power unit driving four hydraulic motors. Each of the 32 hydraulic motors powers a planetary gearbox which drives rubber tyres against the wheel's circumferential rim.
An automated boarding system would enable the wheel to rotate continuously while passengers board and disembark the capsules via electric feeder vehicles.
It is expected that, on a clear sunny day, passengers would be able to see the Great Wall of China
Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in northern China, built originally to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against intrusions by various nomadic groups...
in the mountains to Beijing's north.