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SCMP Reporter

Beijing's fast-changing skyline will soon be home to another modern landmark, with construction of the world's tallest  Ferris wheel officially beginning  yesterday.
Undaunted by the city's notorious air pollution, a Singapore-based company is  setting out to provide a bird's eye view of the ancient city's blending of modern and historic wonders by erecting a 208-metre tall Beijing Great Wheel in Chaoyang Park, a company official said yesterday.
With an estimated price tag of 2.1 billion yuan, the giant wheel is the latest in a slew of extravagant projects in the capital.
Its 48 air-conditioned  capsules are expected to start orbiting by 2009, with each carrying up to 40 passengers.
'When you take a ride, you can see all the new developments in the city's business district, parts of the Forbidden City. On a good day, you can see the Summer Palace. And with a bit of imagination, you can see the Great Wall,' said Thomas Hossmann, financial director of the Great Wheel Corporation in Singapore.
However, not everyone was impressed by the ambition, with plenty of internet postings doubting whether commuters would see anything from such a height in the usually foggy Beijing atmosphere.
Mr Hossmann said the company was confident Beijing's air would improve after next year's Olympic Games.
The height of the wheel suggests a connection  to 2008, and Mr Hossmann said the company had planned to schedule the opening to coincide with the Beijing Olympics. However, the design process had taken longer than expected.
A normal ride is expected to cost 100 yuan and take about 30 minutes. The capsules would also be rented out for special occasions such as wedding and birthday parties, Mr Hossmann said.
A similar project to build a 200-metre wheel was scrapped by Shanghai authorities earlier this year.
Although internet users were rather critical of the lavish project, residents in Beijing said they were looking forward to a ride.
Zhang Xu   said he would be keen to take a peek at the embassy compounds in Chaoyang district because they were usually off limits to the public.



Never mind the smog - capital getting world's tallest Ferris wheel