Highest figure-8 ‘Ferris wheel,’ Macau

This item appears on page 12 of the January 2016 issue.

In Macau, what is being dubbed as the world’s highest figure-8 Ferris wheel, the Golden Reel, is the centerpiece of Chinese hotelier Melco Crown Entertainment’s newest resort, Studio City (Macau, China; phone +853 8865 8888, www.studiocity-macau.com/en), which opened its doors on Nov. 5.

Set more than 400 feet off the ground between two 35-story towers, the Golden Reel has 17 pods, each holding up to 10 people, that slowly track along the sides of the “8” (no hubs or spokes). It operates 12-8 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sat. & Sun. and public holidays. A ride costs MOP100 (near $12.50) adult, MOP85 senior or MOP80 child.

In summer season, nightly room rates at Studio City run MOP4,283 (near $537) to MOP7,728 (executive suite). Free shuttles to the resort leave frequently from the Macau Ferry Terminal, Taipa Ferry Terminal and Macau International Airport.