On October 12, 2022, a massive steel structure Ferris wheel completed its final rotation and achieved perfect closure. With 48 passenger cabins, a rotation diameter of 113 meters, and a total height of 120 meters, this giant structure officially marked its completion. The project added a new landmark to Harbin, the core city of Northeast China.
Known worldwide as the “Eye of Harbin,” the Ferris wheel stands as a powerful symbol of modern engineering and urban ambition. Behind this iconic structure lies the collective intelligence and dedication of hundreds of employees from Harbin Dongan Building Sheets Co., Ltd.
Turning a Steel Structure Ferris Wheel from Concept into Reality
The giant Ferris wheel serves as a signature attraction within the Harbin Ice and Snow World Park and ranks among the city’s most important construction projects. At the very beginning, Dongan faced a fundamental challenge. The team needed to transform an architect’s aesthetic vision into manufacturable steel components that could perform reliably under extreme conditions.
To address this challenge, Dongan quickly assembled a specialized team consisting of designers and product engineers. The team organized more than 30 technical coordination meetings with project designer to align design intent with fabrication feasibility. Through these discussions, both sides reached consensus on component geometry, connection methods, and production tolerances.
Harbin’s winter climate posed additional technical pressure. Temperatures can drop to minus 40 degrees Celsius, which significantly affects material toughness and structural behavior. Engineers repeatedly recalculated key parameters, including low-temperature ductility and dynamic deformation under wind loads.
Using BIM-based three-dimensional modeling, the technical team broke down the entire wheel rim into millimeter-level control points that could be machined and inspected with precision. After producing more than 2,000 detailed fabrication drawings, Dongan successfully achieved a seamless transition from conceptual design to manufacturing processes.
Precision Manufacturing of Steel Structure Components
According to the finalized design, the Ferris wheel rim consists of 24 spatial tubular trusses assembled into a complete ring. The total accumulated error for the entire structure could not exceed 8 millimeters. Each truss measures 16 meters in length and weighs 8.7 tons. At both ends of every truss, a total of 412 bolt holes require a machining accuracy of ±0.2 millimeters. These figures placed extremely high demands on fabrication precision.
To meet these requirements, Dongan adopted five-axis CNC intersection cutting machines. With a feed rate of just 0.1 millimeters per second, the machines carved complex spatial intersection curves into main chord tubes with a diameter of 426 millimeters. This approach ensured smooth force transfer and accurate joint geometry.
Welding quality also played a critical role. After welding, each truss underwent a dual verification process combining coordinate measuring and laser tracking. This method compressed geometric deviation to within 2 millimeters. Supported by 3D CNC drilling machines and coordinate measuring instruments, the production team carried out full-size inspections on every finished component. As a result, the bolt hole compatibility rate across all 24 trusses reached 100 percent, which provided a strong foundation for efficient site installation.
Smooth and Accurate On-Site Assembly
Each 8.7-ton tubular truss was lifted by a 400-ton crawler crane and installed using a high-altitude segmented assembly method. Installation workers operated at heights of up to 80 meters above ground. At that elevation, they manually aligned and fastened all 412 high-strength bolts on each flange connection, one by one.
As the final truss connected with the first, survey instruments recorded a closure error of only 3.2 millimeters. This result far exceeded the original design tolerance requirements. On December 14 of the same year, the drive system completed commissioning, and the Ferris wheel officially entered operation at Harbin Ice and Snow World. The structure incorporates approximately 1,500 tons of steel and 36,000 sets of high-strength bolts.
Today, during each operating season of the Ice and Snow World, the “Eye of Harbin” welcomes more than 1.3 million visitors annually. Beyond its tourism value, the project demonstrates the strength of Chinese steel structure manufacturing, advanced digital design methods, and precise construction management. It also highlights how industrial expertise can successfully support ambitious architectural visions in some of the world’s most challenging climates.
Post time: Jan-21-2026