By Daisy CL Mandap
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| You can have three spins on the Observation Wheel for just $20 (Wikimedia photo) |
If there is one thing that you should not miss during the
pandemic, it is taking a ride on
At the greatly reduced price of $20 for adults and $10 for
children 3-11 years old (those below 3 are free) and senior citizens, the
three-round, 15 to 20-minute ride aboard the 60-metre tall wheel is within the
reach of everyone in
With hardly any tourist around and the weather starting to get cooler, this is also the best time for people in Hong Kong to grab at the chance of having a hassle-free ride on the Observation Wheel, then stroll leisurely on the grounds below.
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When it first opened in 2014, a spin on the wheel cost $100 a person, and many people didn’t balk. After all, similar rides in other countries charged far more. But now that the admission price is only a fifth of the original amount, there is more reason not to miss this visual treat.
The London Eye, which towers over the River Thames at 135
meters, charges between 27 and 30 pounds per person (or about $290-$319) for
each spin. Singapore Flyer, which at 150 meters is
When on the HK Wheel, one could have unobstructed views of Victoria Harbour, and all surrounding areas, including the iconic HSBC and Bank of China headquarters on the other side, and even the Kowloon Peninsula.
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The ride is comfortable as all its 42 gondolas are
air-conditioned and wide enough for non-stop selfies and bloggings, with
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| View of Kowloon from the Wheel |
Each gondola can sit up to eight people, but the ride attendants are trained not to squeeze in people who do not know each other, so even if there are only two of you together, they will let you occupy one carriage so you can have all the space that you want during the ride.
The company’s website mentions a VIP gondola which has leather seats and clear glass-bottom floor and which takes in a maximum of five people, but it does not appear to be on offer to the public.
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After the ride, one can walk over to the adjacent Vitality Park which offers health drinks and snacks, and hosts a variety of classes including yoga, kickboxing and swing dancing; and events like comedy shows and wine-tasting.
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| Central's iconic buildings can be seen from the other side |
But this would not have been all possible had a rift between the previous owner, Swiss AEX and current management, The Entertainment Corporation Limited, not been resolved in time.
The Wheel was closed to the public in August 2017 when a dispute over the transfer of ownership resulted in a deadlock. The government then issued a statement that the Wheel could be dismantled and closed for two years until a replacement was built by TECL.
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| Tunghayan ang isa na namang kwentong Dream Love |
Fortunately, the warring companies struck a deal on Sept 6 that year, which saved the Wheel from demolition. It reopened to the public in December 2017, with the new owners promising to make the Wheel experience more affordable for everyone.
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