In the southeast of China one works escalator what has more than a thousand meters long and is found installed in the middle of the mountain.
Located in the Lingshan Scenic Areain Shangrao, Jiangxi province, the infrastructure allows you to climb a summit of 1,500 meters high in just ten minutes.
The project was conceived as part of an accessible tourism strategy, aimed at expanding access to older people and visitors with reduced mobility.
The one known as ““staircase to the clouds” reaches 1,236 meters in total lengthwith a slope comparable to 88 floors of a building. It is considered the tallest and longest outdoor escalator in the world.
It is located in the Lingshan Mountaina nature reserve characterized by its 72 peaks and mist-covered landscapes. The structure is integrated into the relief like a metal ribbon suspended over the slope.
The work demanded a approximate investment of US$17.8 million and it was built in three years. Since its inauguration, it has established itself as one of the main tourist attractions in Jiangxi.
How the 1,236 meter escalator works in the middle of the mountain
Installing an escalator outdoors and on a steep slope involved adapting traditional systems to demanding climatic conditions. Constant exposure to wind, rain and fog forced materials and structures to be reinforced.
The system is divided into several interconnected sections, each with independent motors. This allows perform maintenance by sectors without interrupting the entire service.
The infrastructure incorporates safety sensors, automatic braking systems and permanent monitoring. These measures are key in an environment of height and constant visitor traffic. Drainage and anti-corrosion protection solutions were also implemented: engineering sought to ensure durability without aggressively altering the natural landscape.
Other monumental escalators in the world
Although that of Lingshan It is the longest and tallest outdoors, there are other giant escalators that surprise with their location and function.
In Hong Kongthe system Central–Mid-Levels connects different neighborhoods through a covered network that exceeds 800 meters. It does not reach 1,236 meters, but it became a reference for urban mobility on slopes.
In Colombialas escalators of Comuna 13 in Medellín transformed the access into an urban mountainous area. There, the infrastructure reduced travel times and improved social integration.
Also in Japan There are exterior escalators in tourist complexes and high-rise temples, although none reach the slope equivalent to 88 floors that the Chinese work presents.
