When completed in 2009, the 208m-high Beijing Great Wheel will be the world's tallest and largest ferris wheel.

It comprises 48 air-conditioned observation capsules, each of which can carry up to 40 passengers. On a good day, the Great Wall is expected to be visible in the mountains to Beijing's north.

'The wheel itself is a nice add-on to the city. It's a new icon for the city,' Great Wheel Corp chief executive officer Stephan Matter said yesterday ahead of the ground-breaking ceremony.

The wheel will stand in eastern Beijing's Chaoyang Park, where beach volleyball events will take place at next year's Olympics.

Mr Matter said the Beijing Great Wheel, which costs around 200 million euros (S$400 million) to build, will have a far greater capacity than the 135m-tall London Eye.

'The capsule in London caters for 25. Ours will cater for 40 people...It weighs 18 tonnes. It's like your living room,' he said. Tickets will go for about 100 yuan (S$20) a head, though the final price has yet to be decided, he added.

The experience will be like flying, said chairman Florian Bollen, whose company is also involved in Singapore's ferris wheel.

'It will allow the people of Beijing to rise up and see the city from a completely new perspective,' Mr Bollen said. 'It is a flight.'

Only last year, China opened the world's tallest ferris wheel, the 160m 'Star of Nanchang' in the eastern province of Jiangxi. It will be overtaken by the 165m Singapore Flyer when that opens in March next year.

REUTERS