The Beijing Great Wheel, which in simplified Chinese reads as: 北京朝天轮; and in traditional Chinese reads as: 北京朝天輪, is a 208 meters (682 ft) tall giant Ferris wheel project. Located in eastern Beijing's Chaoyang Park, one of the 2008 Summer Olympics venues, its planned height exceeds that of the current world's tallest Ferris wheel record holder, the 165 m (541 ft) Singapore Flyer.

The Great Wheel Corporation originally forecast the wheel would start turning on August 1, 2008, one week in advance of the Beijing-hosted 2008 Summer Olympics. In 2007, Chinese state media reported that construction had begun, with completion delayed until 2009 due to design issues. Completion was subsequently rescheduled for 2010.

On 3 May 2010 it was reported that Great Beijing Wheel Co., the company set up to build the wheel, had gone into receivership after breaching the conditions of a loan, with Ferrier Hodgson and Zolfo Cooper appointed as administrative receivers. Construction work has been stopped since then.

The Design

If completed, the wheel would have a diameter of 198 m (650 ft), and each of its 48 air conditioned observation capsules would be able to carry up to 40 passengers.

It would be rotated by four drive units, each capable of producing over 16 million lb-ft of torque. Each unit comprises a pair of hydraulic drive modules, each module containing a hydraulic power unit driving four hydraulic motors. Each of the 32 hydraulic motors powers a planetary gearbox which drives rubber tyres against the wheel's circumferential rim.

An automated boarding system would enable the wheel to rotate continuously while passengers board and disembark the capsules via electric feeder vehicles.

It is expected that, on a clear sunny day, passengers would be able to see the Great Wall of China in the mountains to Beijing's north.