In the song "Happy Ferris Wheel", Eason Chan sings softly about love's happiness and the romance of a Ferris wheel: "Chase, chase, high and low, take a deep breath and follow you hand in hand, no longer afraid of heights.

Swinging together, fearless and carefree, looking at the world from above, even in moments of loss, we still smile and cry."

Similar to skyscrapers, Ferris wheels have become iconic landmarks in cities, offering more than just a scenic view but also a place full of emotional memories. The slow turning of these giant wheels presents a dynamic beauty, adding a sense of movement and life to the cityscape.

The Origin: A Beautiful Fairytale from the Industrial Era

Some say that to truly love a city, one needs to look at it from above. Maybe that's why people climb onto Ferris wheels, to view the city from a detached perspective, to find beauty in its layout, or simply to enjoy a moment of relaxation amidst their busy daily lives.

The Ferris wheel, along with roller coasters and carousels, is known as one of the "three treasures of amusement parks." As early as the 17th century, the Bulgarians invented a "pleasure wheel" — a large wooden ring with six or seven seats, where passengers would sit while strong men turned the wheel. This is considered the earliest form of the Ferris wheel.

The modern Ferris wheel, as we know it, was born after the Industrial Revolution. In 1892, American William Somers installed three 50-foot (15.2-meter) wooden wheels in Asbury Park, Atlantic City, and Coney Island, New Jersey, known as "Somers Wheels." Engineer George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. rode one of these wheels in Atlantic City, an experience that inspired him to create his own version, leading to a lawsuit over patent rights. In 1893, at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Ferris's wheel, made of steel and standing 80.4 meters tall, was unveiled to the public, astonishing everyone. Its purpose was to rival the Eiffel Tower, which had been built in Paris for the 1889 Exposition. At the time, no one knew what to call it, so they simply named it "Ferris Wheel" after its inventor.

The Evolution and Spread of the Ferris Wheel

After the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, smaller versions of the Ferris wheel started to appear worldwide. Standing in the center of the fairgrounds, Ferris's wheel quickly became a symbol of amusement parks, and it spread across the world, becoming an iconic attraction in amusement parks, named "Ferris Wheel" in tribute of its creator.

Over the next century, many variations of the Ferris wheel emerged, with different designs and structures. They are generally classified into three categories: observation wheels, gravity-driven wheels, and hubless wheels. Gravity-driven Ferris wheels have cabins that hang from the wheel, using gravity to stay upright regardless of the wheel's position. Observation wheels have cabins suspended outside the wheel, requiring complex mechanical systems to keep them level as they rotate. Hubless Ferris wheels, like the one in Tokyo's Big O, have no central hub, and only the cabins rotate around a massive ring.

The Race to Build the Tallest Ferris Wheel

Early Ferris wheels were created as industrial marvels to showcase technological advances, with taller wheels symbolizing greater industrial achievement. In 1900, the proud people of Paris, frustrated by the success of the Ferris wheel at American expos, built their own 100-meter-high wheel for the next World's Fair. Although it was dismantled in 1920, its record stood for almost 90 years.

The oldest surviving Ferris wheel, located in Vienna, Austria, was built in 1897 for the 50th anniversary of Emperor Franz Joseph I's reign. Known as the "Wiener Riesenrad" (Vienna Giant Wheel), it stands at 64.75 meters and originally had 30 cabins. Despite being almost demolished during global conflict, it survived, becoming the tallest Ferris wheel in the world after the Paris wheel was dismantled. It remained the tallest until it was surpassed by Japan's Tsukuba City wheel in 1985.

The second industrial revolution gave birth to the Ferris wheel, but the competition for height and innovation continued into the 21st century, with more cities adding their own Ferris wheels. These giant wheels became a symbol of ambition for any city, offering both local pride and a major attraction for tourists.

The Modern Era: Megawheels Around the World

The "London Eye" opened to the public in March 2000, initially sponsored by British Airways and later renamed by Coca-Cola. Originally a temporary structure built to mark the turn of the century, it quickly became a permanent fixture after boosting tourism by 10% in its first year. However, its height record (135 meters) was surpassed in 2005 by China's "Nanchang Star" at 160 meters, which also boasts the largest clock in Asia.

The latest contenders in the race for the tallest Ferris wheel come from Las Vegas and Guangzhou. Las Vegas's "High Roller," completed in 2014, stands at 167.6 meters, while Guangzhou's tower-mounted Ferris wheel, opened in 2011, reaches an astounding 450 meters — though this impressive height is due to its location atop the 450-meter-tall Guangzhou Tower.

The competition has also seen delays, with several projects, such as the Beijing Skywheel, Dubai's, Berlin's, and New York's proposed towers, stalled due to economic downturns, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other obstacles.

Challenges and Safety Concerns

Despite the excitement surrounding the construction of Ferris wheels, safety is often overlooked in favor of speed and height. Though Ferris wheels have been around for over a century, accidents still occur. For instance, in 2015, the Orlando Eye stopped unexpectedly, stranding 66 people for three hours, and in 2016, two mechanical failures occurred in just six days on the "Dragon Eye" Ferris wheel in Changzhou. Despite their popularity, these thrilling rides come with their own set of risks.

In conclusion, Ferris wheels have evolved from a simple amusement ride to towering symbols of modern cities, with each one vying to be taller, more innovative, and more spectacular than the last. But amid the excitement of competition and spectacle, the importance of safety remains a critical concern for operators and engineers worldwide.

The Ferris wheel, as a unique symbol of modern cities, has become more than just an amusement ride; it carries the emotional, historical, and cultural memories of the places it resides. Whether offering a brief moment of peace amidst the hustle and bustle of urban life or serving as a landmark that attracts thousands of tourists, the allure of the Ferris wheel lies in its height and the expansive view it provides. With the construction of more and more Ferris wheels, they have become not just a quest for high vantage points but a testament to emotions and memories. From its humble origins as a simple mechanical device to its current grandeur, the story of the Ferris wheel continues to unfold.

For cities, the Ferris wheel is more than just a sightseeing tool—it is a symbol representing the city's ambition and hope. Perhaps this is why Ferris wheels have increasingly become symbols of cities around the world, embodying our longing for beauty and romance when we visit these places.

Whether bathed in sparkling lights or basking in the first rays of sunlight of the day, Ferris wheels continue to showcase their timeless charm. They not only rotate the skyline of the city but also turn the dreams of a better life in people's hearts.