Beijing Great Wheel
{{Infobox building
|name = Beijing Great Wheel
|image =
|caption =
|location = Chaoyang Park, Beijing, China
|coordinates = {{coord|39|56|58|N|116|28|47|E|region:CN|display=inline,title}}
|status = Went into receivership in 2010
|height = {{Convert|208|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
|completion_date =
|est_completion =
|structural_engineer=
|architect =
|building_type = Ferris wheel
}}
The Beijing Great Wheel, ({{zh|s=北京朝天轮|t=北京朝天輪|p=Běijīng Cháotiānlún}}) a {{Convert|208|m|ft|0|adj=on}} tall giant Ferris wheel, was to have been constructed in eastern Beijing's Chaoyang Park, one of the 2008 Summer Olympics venues. If it had been built, it would have become the world's tallest Ferris wheel, superseding the {{Convert|165|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} Singapore Flyer (world's tallest 2008–2014).
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.[http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g3Nb2cmuC0TcyevBNd13w9GEYY_w Beijing begins construction of world's biggest wheel] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705180142/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g3Nb2cmuC0TcyevBNd13w9GEYY_w |date=2013-07-05 }} AFP 2007-11-05 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/vgn-ext-templating/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=5e21b0b2a2b00210VgnVCM100000430a0a0aRCRD&vgnextchannel=f511758920e39010VgnVCM1000000a35010aRCRD|title=Beijing Great Wheel may face more delays|work=straitstimes.com|access-date=10 August 2009}}{{cite web |url=http://www.greatwheel.com/beijing_eng/intro.htm |publisher=greatwheel.com |title=Introduction |access-date=2010-09-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100127103323/http://www.greatwheel.com/beijing_eng/intro.htm |archive-date=2010-01-27 |url-status=dead }}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2010-05/16787598-beijing-ferris-wheel-company-in-receivership-ifr-020.htm|title=Beijing Ferris wheel company in receivership - IFR|date=3 May 2010|work=FinanzNachrichten.de|access-date=19 January 2015}}
Design
If it had been completed, the wheel would have had a diameter of {{Convert|198|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, and each of its 48 air conditioned observation capsules would have been able to carry up to 40 passengers.{{cite web|url=http://www.hydraulicspneumatics.com/200/Issue/Article/False/81645/Issue|title=Hydraulics powers Great Wheel of Beijing|work=hydraulicspneumatics.com|access-date=19 January 2015}}
It would have been rotated by four drive units, each capable of producing over 16 million lb-ft of torque and comprising a pair of hydraulic drive modules, each module containing a hydraulic power unit driving four hydraulic motors. Each of the 32 hydraulic motors was to have powered a planetary gearbox driving rubber tyres against the wheel's circumferential rim.
An automated boarding system would have enabled the wheel to rotate continuously while passengers boarded and disembarked the capsules via electric feeder vehicles.
It was expected that, on a clear sunny day, passengers would have been able to see the Great Wall of China in the mountains to Beijing's north.[http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PEK268821.htm Great Wall old hat as Beijing eyes Great Wheel] Reuters 2007-11-05, Ben Blanchard
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Portal|China}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100127094701/http://www.greatwheel.com/beijing_eng/home_english.htm The Great Wheel Corporation - Beijing Great Wheel]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110707222247/http://www.beijing-greatwheel.com/html/progress_e.html Beijing Great Wheel - Construction Progress]
{{Ferris wheel}}