The World's Only Figure-8 Ferris Wheel: 6 People for Just 588 Yuan per Hour, with Free Afternoon Tea – A Real Bargain

When it comes to Ferris wheels, everyone is familiar. Ever since American George Ferris designed the first Ferris wheel for the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, Ferris wheels have sprung up all over the world like mushrooms after rain, quickly becoming an indispensable mascot of amusement parks. Although the first Ferris wheel failed to surpass the Eiffel Tower as a global landmark, the aesthetically pleasing and entertaining Ferris wheel successfully spread across the globe.

After the appearance of the Ferris wheel, it quickly became a darling of the cultural and artistic world, including filmmakers, painters, and photographers. It can be seen in numerous films, songs, photography, and paintings. Songs like "Wandering endlessly on the Ferris wheel, gazing at the world moving from above, still smiling through tears at the fallen moments, silently greeting the ups and downs of life; when life lingers on the Ferris wheel, at blissful moments, you can kiss the stars, and in thrilling moments, I can still hold you close" have become widely popular.

As more and larger Ferris wheels have been built, their types have also diversified, such as gravity Ferris wheels, hubless Ferris wheels, and observation Ferris wheels. However, none of these designs have broken away from the circular shape of the first generation Ferris wheel—a case of "the more things change, the more they stay the same." But there is an exception: recently in Macau, we encountered a Ferris wheel that is not only the world's first of its shape but also the only figure-8 Ferris wheel in the world.

Ferris wheels are common, but a figure-8 Ferris wheel is absolutely unique and has a notable origin. It was built with investment from Lawrence Ho, son of Macau's "gambling king" Stanley Ho, and is located at Studio City in Macau. Reports say the entire hotel cost $3.2 billion, which is close to 20 billion RMB. It caused a stir in the industry as soon as it opened.

During our recent trip to Macau, we had the opportunity to personally experience this world's only figure-8 Ferris wheel. It sits atop the 130-meter-high tower of Studio City. Not only is it the world's only "8"-shaped Ferris wheel, but it is also the tallest building-mounted Ferris wheel in Asia. Its novel and unique design also incorporates the Chinese favorable number 8. A full rotation takes about 20 minutes.

To celebrate the Christmas season, we happened to visit during their afternoon tea package promotion, and we were fortunate to be among the first afternoon tea guests. As you can see from the pictures, the afternoon tea treats are quite abundant, including fruits, bread, pastries, and tea drinks. It's a truly delightful experience to gather a few friends or bring the whole family to enjoy an hour of afternoon tea here.

It is worth noting that the afternoon tea package is an incredible deal. Normally, a regular ticket costs 100 yuan per person for a 20-minute ride (one rotation). But the afternoon tea package costs 588 yuan per cabin, which can accommodate up to 6 people and allows for three consecutive rotations (a total of just over an hour). Think about it: if 6 people bought regular tickets, it would cost 600 yuan (even more than the afternoon tea package), and they wouldn't get any afternoon tea and could only ride for one rotation. With the afternoon tea package, 6 people can ride three rotations and get a lavish afternoon tea for free – what a bargain!

The Ferris wheel is surrounded by transparent glass, so at a height of 130 meters, the view is incredibly open. There is also a transparent glass section on the floor. For those with courage, you can walk on it and experience a moving glass walkway. Though small, it keeps moving, making the experience quite thrilling.

The Ferris wheel completes one rotation in 20 minutes and runs very smoothly. You can enjoy the view, chat, and savor delicious food at the same time. The scenery changes with altitude and angle, making you feel like you are sitting on a moving observation deck.

The entire Ferris wheel has 17 "punk"-themed cabins, each capable of holding up to 10 visitors. However, if you purchase the afternoon tea package, each cabin can only accommodate 6 people for 588 yuan.

When the Ferris wheel reaches its highest point, the views on both sides are the broadest: on one side, you can see the panorama of Macau, and on the other, you can enjoy the landscape of Hengqin, Zhuhai (the distant area in the photo above is Hengqin). It truly is a spectacular visual feast.

The figure-8 Ferris wheel is truly special and represents a groundbreaking design that breaks away from traditional limitations. I wonder if in the future we will see triangular, polygonal, or irregularly shaped Ferris wheels? It's really interesting. And their afternoon tea package is super cost-effective. If you get the chance, you should definitely experience it. Finally, I'd like to interact with you: a circular Ferris wheel rotates clockwise. Do you know how this figure-8 Ferris wheel moves? Those who have ridden it, don't say anything yet; those who haven't, try to guess. If enough people participate, there might be a surprise.