The Tianjin Eye Ferris Wheel is located on Yongle Bridge at the confluence of the three rivers in Hongqiao District, Tianjin, and is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. It is a giant Ferris wheel that combines transportation functions with sightseeing value, and it is also the only Ferris wheel in the world built on a bridge. This unique design makes it one of Tianjin's landmark buildings. The Tianjin Eye Ferris Wheel has a diameter of 110 meters, with 48 360-degree transparent gondolas mounted on its rim. Each gondola can carry 8 people, and it can accommodate up to 384 visitors at the same time. The Yongle Bridge where the Ferris wheel is located spans the Haihe River, and the overall structure blends into the surrounding urban landscape. Although the scenic area does not have a separate large park, its unique geographical location and architectural design have made it a highly attractive tourist check-in spot in Tianjin.
Historical Culture
The construction concept of the Tianjin Eye originated from an innovative idea of combining a city landmark with transportation facilities. In 2005, the Tianjin Eye officially began construction, and its construction process integrated modern engineering technology with the cultural needs of the city. In April 2008, the Tianjin Eye Ferris Wheel was officially opened to the public. Its completion not only filled the gap of a large Ferris wheel in Tianjin, but also made it an important transportation hub connecting Hongqiao District and Hebei District as part of Yongle Bridge, achieving a perfect combination of transportation and tourism.
As a new landmark of Tianjin, the Tianjin Eye has witnessed the development and changes of the city. It carries the emotional memories of Tianjin residents and has also become an important window for out-of-town tourists to learn about Tianjin's urban style. Its unique architectural form not only reflects the technological feel of modern architecture, but also echoes the historical and cultural landscapes along the Haihe River, becoming a microcosm of Tianjin's characteristic blend of ancient and modern.
Main Attractions
Tianjin Eye Ferris Wheel Gondolas
The Tianjin Eye Ferris Wheel has 48 fully transparent gondolas. Each gondola is spacious and comfortable, equipped with facilities such as air conditioning, allowing visitors to comfortably enjoy the scenery in different seasons. The gondolas adopt a 360-degree design with no blind spots, ensuring that visitors can overlook the surrounding urban landscape in all directions during the ride. As the Ferris wheel slowly rotates, visitors can take in the Haihe River, Tianjin Ancient Culture Street, Dabeiyuan Temple, 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 and connects Hongqiao District and Hebei District. This bridge is not only an important transportation route, but its own architectural design is also quite distinctive. It integrates with the Tianjin Eye to form a unique urban landscape. There are pedestrian walkways on the bridge, where visitors can stroll and admire the majestic appearance of the Tianjin Eye up close, experiencing the ingenious combination of the bridge and the Ferris wheel.
Food
Goubuli Baozi
Goubuli Baozi is a traditional famous snack in Tianjin, and there are several branches not far from the Tianjin Eye. Its baozi is famous for its thin skin, generous filling, even pleats, and delicious taste. The fillings are rich in variety, including pork filling, three-fresh filling, and more. Each baozi has 18 to 22 pleats, showing exquisite craftsmanship. With one 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 specialty snack in Tianjin, commonly found in food streets or snack shops around the Tianjin Eye. It uses glutinous rice flour as the skin and is filled with red bean paste and other fillings. After frying, the outer skin is golden and crispy, while the inside is soft, glutinous, and sweet, with a rich texture. Erduoyan Fried Cake has a long history and has been passed down for more than a hundred years. It is a traditional food loved by Tianjin people and a good choice for tourists to taste Tianjin flavors.
Shibajie Fried Dough Twist
Shibajie Fried Dough Twist, also known as Guifaxiang Fried Dough Twist, can be bought in specialty stores around the Tianjin Eye. This kind of fried dough twist uses carefully selected ingredients and has a unique production process. It is crispy in texture, sweet in taste, and does not become soft even after being stored for a long time. The shape is attractive, with varieties such as ordinary fried dough twists and filled fried dough twists. It is a famous flavor snack in Tianjin and a great gift for relatives and friends.
Surrounding Food Streets
The Ancient Culture Street near the Tianjin Eye has many specialty food shops. In addition to the three foods mentioned above, there are also local Tianjin snacks such as guobacai, cooked pear cake, and fish stewed with cornmeal cakes. Guobacai is made by cutting mung bean flour pancakes into pieces, pouring on gravy, and adding seasonings such as sesame paste and fermented bean curd. It has a unique taste. Cooked pear cake is made by steaming rice flour and then spreading various jams on it. It is sweet and delicious and deeply loved by tourists.
Tickets：
Tickets are 80 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "Tianjin Eye Ferris Wheel" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours：
Opening hours are adjusted according to the seasons. In general, the opening hours from Monday to Friday are 10:00-21:00; on Saturdays, Sundays, and statutory holidays, the opening hours are 9:30-21:30. However, in special weather (such as heavy rain, strong winds, etc.) or during equipment maintenance, the opening hours may be temporarily adjusted. Visitors are advised to check and confirm through official channels before traveling.
Tour Route：
Visitors can first enter the scenic area from the entrance and stroll on Yongle Bridge, admiring the overall appearance of the Tianjin Eye and the surrounding Haihe River scenery, and experiencing the unique combination of the bridge and the Ferris wheel. After that, go to the Ferris wheel entrance to line up and have tickets checked, then ride the Ferris wheel gondola. One full rotation of the Ferris wheel takes about 30 minutes. During this time, visitors can fully enjoy the city scenery from above and take in the surrounding attractions and urban style. After riding the Ferris wheel, visitors can go to nearby attractions such as the Ancient Culture Street to continue sightseeing, taste local food, and experience Tianjin's historical and cultural atmosphere. The entire tour takes about 2-3 hours, and visitors can arrange it reasonably according to their own time.
Transportation：
Subway: You can take Tianjin Metro Line 1 and get off at Xibeijiao Station, exit from Exit B, and walk about 1.2 kilometers to arrive; or take Metro Line 6 and get off at Tiantailu Station, exit from Exit A, and walk about 1.5 kilometers to arrive.
Bus: There are several bus stops nearby, such as Yongle Bridge Station and Sanshishi Station. Buses such as 4, 37, 611, 634, 659, 673, 802, 849, and 859 can reach Yongle Bridge Station. After getting off, you can walk to the scenic area.
Taxi: Taking a taxi to the Tianjin Eye within Tianjin urban area will cost different amounts depending on the departure point. Generally, from the city center, the cost is about 10-20 yuan.
Self-driving: There are parking lots around the scenic area, and visitors can drive there. The parking fee for small cars is 6 yuan per hour, and the specific fee is subject to on-site notice.
Must-Visit Attractions：
Tianjin Eye Ferris Wheel Gondolas: 110 meters in diameter, 48 fully transparent gondolas, each seating 8 people, with one rotation taking about 30 minutes. It offers a 360-degree overlook of the Haihe River, Ancient Culture Street, and other surrounding landscapes, and is the core attraction for experiencing high-altitude sightseeing.
Yongle Bridge: It spans the Haihe River and connects Hongqiao and Hebei Districts. It is both a transportation bridge and the carrier of the Tianjin Eye. On the bridge, visitors can admire the Ferris wheel up close and feel the beauty of the integration of architecture and landscape.
Travel Suggestions：
Best time to visit: It is recommended to ride in clear daytime or in the evening. During the day, you can clearly enjoy the urban scenery, and in the evening, you can see the sunset and the beautiful scene of the city lights just turning on, experiencing different visual effects.
Avoiding peak hours: There are many tourists on weekends and holidays, and queuing may be necessary. It is recommended to go on weekdays, or choose the time just after opening in the morning or later in the afternoon to reduce waiting time.
Pair with surrounding visits: You can arrange the Tianjin Eye together with nearby attractions such as Ancient Culture Street and Dabeiyuan Temple in the same itinerary to enrich the tour and experience Tianjin's diverse culture.
Allow enough time: For riding the Ferris wheel plus surrounding sightseeing, it is recommended to allow 2-3 hours to fully experience the scenic area and surrounding features.
Notes：
When riding the Ferris wheel, you must comply with the scenic area's regulations. Smoking and littering in the gondola are prohibited, and the gondola should be kept clean.
Visitors with acrophobia, heart disease, high blood pressure, and other conditions are advised to ride with caution to avoid discomfort.
Children under 1.2 meters in height must be accompanied by an adult when riding to ensure safety.
During the operation of the Ferris wheel, do not shake the gondola at will or lean against the glass to avoid danger.
Once scenic area tickets are sold, they are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Visitors should arrange their travel time reasonably.
In severe weather such as thunderstorms and strong winds, the scenic area may suspend operation, and visitors need to follow the arrangements of staff and evacuate in an orderly manner.