Travel Notes Tianjin Eye: The Ferris Wheel Built on a Bridge
The Tianjin Eye, formally the Yongle Bridge Ferris Wheel, stands on the main stream of the Hai River at the border of Hebei and Hongqiao districts, right at the Three Confluences where the Hai meets the South and North canals — also the birthplace of the city. Its one-of-a-kind claim is that it is the only ferris wheel in the world built on a bridge: the bridge deck and the wheel are one structure, so traffic runs beneath while riders turn above, with river and city laid out below.
A wheel fused with a bridge
The wheel is 110 metres across and carries 48 fully enclosed, air-conditioned transparent cabins, each seating 8; one revolution takes about 28 minutes. At the top it rises roughly 120 metres above ground — some forty storeys — and through the windows you get a 360-degree sweep of the skyline and the winding river within a 40 km radius. Designed jointly by Japan’s Kumagai Gumi and the Tianjin Architectural Design Institute, it turns a traffic bridge into a city observation tower, an idea rare anywhere in the world.
From 2008 to today
The bridge was originally the Cihai Bridge, renamed Yongle in 2007. The wheel ran a trial in April 2008 and opened formally in April 2009, since when it has become a modern landmark of Tianjin and North China. After dark the lights change colour with the seasons and festivals, mirroring on the water — one of the most photographed stars of the Hai River night.
How to enjoy it best
For the sunset, board an hour before dusk to watch the river turn from gold to red as the banks light up; to skip the queue, pick a weekday or off-holiday time. The ride is smooth, fine for the old and the young. For a different angle, take a Hai River cruise from the Tianjin Eye pier past the Lion Grove, Jintang and Liberation bridges — about fifty minutes, and the deck view is quite unlike the one from the wheel.
How to link it up
The Eye connects, at one end, to the old walled town of Hebei district, and not far off lie the Ancient Culture Street and the Italian-style quarter. String “ferris wheel + Ancient Culture Street + Hai River promenade” into a relaxed half-day: browse and snack by day, ride the wheel at dusk, then stroll the river to finish.
Practical information
- Tickets: about 70 yuan per person (as posted on site).
- Hours: usually 9:30–21:30; it may close for half a day on Monday for maintenance and extend on holidays — check ahead.
- Getting there: metro Line 1 or 2 to the Northwest Corner / West Railway area, then a taxi or bus; drivers can use nearby mall parking.
- Best experience: board an hour before sunset for both daylight and night view.
- Tips: transparent cabins get sunny in summer and chilly in winter — bring a jacket. Phones shoot fine at the top though signal is weak there.
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