The Tianjin Eye Ferris Wheel is located on Yongle Bridge at Sancha Estuary in Hongqiao District, Tianjin. It is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. It is a giant ferris wheel with both transportation functions and sightseeing value, and is also the only ferris wheel in the world built on a bridge. This unique design makes it one of Tianjin's iconic buildings. The Tianjin Eye Ferris wheel has a diameter of 110 meters, with 48 360-degree transparent cabins hung outside the wheel. Each cabin can hold 8 people, and it can accommodate a maximum of 384 people for sightseeing at the same time. The Yongle Bridge where the ferris wheel is located spans the Haihe River, and the overall building is integrated with the surrounding urban landscape. Although the scenic area does not have a separate large-scale park, due to its unique geographical location and architectural design, it has become a highly attractive tourist check-in spot in Tianjin.
History and Culture
The construction concept of the Tianjin Eye originated from the innovative idea of combining urban landmarks with transportation facilities. In 2005, the Tianjin Eye officially started construction, and its construction process integrated modern engineering technology with urban cultural needs. In April 2008, the Tianjin Eye Ferris wheel was officially opened to the public. Its completion not only filled the gap of large ferris wheels in Tianjin, but also became part of Yongle Bridge, an important transportation hub connecting Hongqiao District and Hebei District, realizing the perfect combination of transportation and tourism.
As a new landmark of Tianjin, the Tianjin Eye has witnessed the development and changes of Tianjin. It carries the emotional memories of Tianjin citizens and has become an important window for foreign tourists to understand the urban style of Tianjin. Its unique architectural form not only reflects the sense of technology of modern architecture, but also echoes the historical and cultural landscapes along the Haihe River, becoming an epitome of Tianjin's urban characteristics that blends ancient and modern times.
Main Attractions
Cabins of Tianjin Eye Ferris Wheel
The Tianjin Eye Ferris wheel has 48 fully transparent cabins. Each cabin is spacious and comfortable, equipped with air conditioning and other facilities, allowing tourists to enjoy the scenery comfortably in different seasons. The cabins are designed with 360-degree no dead angles, ensuring that tourists can have an all-round view of the surrounding urban landscape during the ride. As the ferris wheel slowly rotates, tourists can take in the Haihe River, Tianjin Ancient Culture Street, Dabei Buddhist Monastery and other surrounding landmark attractions, experiencing a unique high-altitude perspective.
Yongle Bridge
Yongle Bridge is the carrier of the Tianjin Eye Ferris wheel. It spans the Haihe River, connecting Hongqiao District and Hebei District. This bridge is not only an important traffic artery, but also its own architectural design is quite distinctive. It is integrated with the Tianjin Eye, forming a unique urban landscape. There are pedestrian walkways on the bridge, where tourists can walk, watch the majestic appearance of the Tianjin Eye at close range, and feel the ingenious conception of the combination of the bridge and the ferris wheel.
Food
Goubuli Baozi
Goubuli Baozi is a traditional famous food in Tianjin, and there are many branches not far from the Tianjin Eye. Its buns are famous for their thin skin, large filling, even folds and delicious taste. There are various types of fillings for the buns, including pork filling, three fresh fillings, etc. Each bun has 18 to 22 folds, with exquisite production techniques. Taking a bite, the soup is rich and the meat is tender, making it one of the must-try foods in Tianjin.
Erduoyan Fried Cake
Erduoyan Fried Cake is a characteristic snack in Tianjin, which is common in food streets or snack bars around the Tianjin Eye. It uses glutinous rice flour as the skin, filled with red bean paste, etc. After frying, the outer skin is golden and crispy, and the inner part is soft, glutinous and sweet, with a rich taste. Erduoyan Fried Cake has a long history, with a heritage of more than 100 years. It is a traditional food loved by Tianjin people and a good choice for tourists to taste Tianjin flavors.
Shibajie Mahua (Twisted Dough Sticks)
Shibajie Mahua, also known as Guifaxiang Mahua, can be bought in specialty stores around the Tianjin Eye. This kind of mahua is made of fine ingredients with unique production techniques. It has a crispy taste, a sweet flavor, and does not become soft after long storage. The mahua has a beautiful shape, with various types such as ordinary mahua and stuffed mahua. It is a famous local snack in Tianjin and a good gift for relatives and friends.
Surrounding Food Streets
There are many characteristic food shops in the Ancient Culture Street near the Tianjin Eye. In addition to the above three kinds of food, there are also Tianjin local characteristic snacks such as Guobacai (pot sticker vegetable), Shuli Gao (steamed pear cake), Tie Bobo Ao Xiaoyu (sticky corn cake with braised small fish), etc. Guobacai is made by cutting pot stickers made of mung bean flour into pieces, pouring sauce on them, and matching with sesame paste, fermented bean curd and other seasonings, with a unique taste; Shuli Gao is made by steaming rice flour and then smearing various jams on it, which is sweet and delicious, loved by tourists.
Tickets
The ticket price is 80 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "天津之眼摩天轮" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours will be adjusted according to the season. Generally, the opening hours from Monday to Friday are 10:00-21:00; the opening hours on Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays are 9:30-21:30. However, in case of special weather (such as heavy rain, strong wind, etc.) or equipment maintenance, the opening hours may be adjusted temporarily. It is recommended that tourists check and confirm through official channels before traveling.
Tour Route
Tourists can first enter the scenic area from the entrance, and first walk on Yongle Bridge to enjoy the overall appearance of the Tianjin Eye and the surrounding scenery of the Haihe River, feeling the unique combination of the bridge and the ferris wheel. Then, go to the entrance of the ferris wheel to line up for ticket checking and take the ferris wheel cabin. It takes about 30 minutes for the ferris wheel to rotate once. During this time, tourists can enjoy the urban scenery from a high altitude, taking in the surrounding attractions and urban style. After riding the ferris wheel, you can go to the surrounding attractions such as the Ancient Culture Street to continue your tour, taste local food, and feel the historical and cultural atmosphere of Tianjin. The entire tour process takes about 2-3 hours, and tourists can arrange their time reasonably according to their own schedules.
Transportation
- Subway: You can take Tianjin Metro Line 1 to Xijiaokou Station, get out from Exit B, and walk about 1.2 kilometers to reach; or take Metro Line 6 to Tiantai Road Station, get out from Exit A, and walk about 1.5 kilometers to reach.
- Bus: There are multiple bus stops nearby, such as Yongle Bridge Station, Santiaoshi Station, etc. You can take buses No. 4, 37, 611, 634, 659, 673, 802, 849, 859, etc. to reach Yongle Bridge Station, and then walk to the scenic area after getting off.
- Taxi: Taking a taxi to the Tianjin Eye in Tianjin urban area, the cost varies according to the departure location. Generally, from the city center, the cost is about 10-20 yuan.
- Self-driving: There are parking lots around the scenic area, and tourists can drive by themselves. The parking fee standard is 6 yuan per hour for small cars, and the specific fee is subject to on-site announcement.
Must-visit Attractions
- Cabins of Tianjin Eye Ferris Wheel: With a diameter of 110 meters, 48 fully transparent cabins, each can seat 8 people, rotating once in about 30 minutes, it can overlook the Haihe River, Ancient Culture Street and other surrounding landscapes in 360 degrees, which is the core attraction for experiencing high-altitude sightseeing.
- Yongle Bridge: Spanning the Haihe River, connecting Hongqiao and Hebei Districts, it is both a traffic bridge and the carrier of the Tianjin Eye. You can watch the ferris wheel at close range on the bridge, feeling the beauty of the integration of architecture and landscape.
Travel Suggestions
- Best time to visit: It is recommended to take the ride on a sunny day or in the evening. During the day, you can clearly enjoy the urban style; in the evening, you can see the sunset and the beauty of the city lights just turning on, experiencing different visual effects.
- Avoid peak hours: There are many tourists on weekends and holidays, and you may need to wait in line. It is recommended to go on weekdays, or choose the time when it just opens in the morning or later in the afternoon to reduce waiting time.
- Combine with surrounding tours: You can arrange the Tianjin Eye with surrounding attractions such as the Ancient Culture Street and Dabei Buddhist Monastery in the same itinerary to enrich the tour content and feel the diverse culture of Tianjin.
- Reserve time: It is recommended to reserve 2-3 hours for riding the ferris wheel and visiting the surrounding areas to fully experience the characteristics of the scenic area and its surroundings.
Matters Needing Attention
- When riding the ferris wheel, you must abide by the regulations of the scenic area, not smoke or litter in the cabin, and keep the cabin clean.
- Tourists with acrophobia, heart disease, hypertension and other diseases are advised to ride with caution to avoid discomfort.
- Children under 1.2 meters in height (inclusive) must be accompanied by adults to ride to ensure safety.
- During the operation of the ferris wheel, do not shake the cabin or lean against the glass at will to avoid danger.
- Once the scenic area tickets are sold, they are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Tourists are requested to arrange their travel time reasonably.
- In case of severe weather such as thunderstorms and strong winds, the scenic area may suspend operations. Tourists must follow the arrangement of the staff and evacuate in an orderly manner.