The world's longest outdoor escalator system has opened in Wushan County, China. It stretches nearly 3,000 feet and climbs 800 feet high. This is about the same height as an 80-story building.
The system is called the "Goddess" escalator. It includes 21 separate escalators, 8 elevators, 4 moving walkways, and several pedestrian bridges. Riding the entire system takes about 21 minutes.
Solving Transit Challenges in Wushan
Wushan is in the mountainous region of Chongqing, where varied elevations make travel difficult. Huang Wei, the project's design lead, noted that no other similar project in China is as large. He told the Financial Times that it's the first of its kind.
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Start Your News DetoxOfficials have been looking for ways to improve transit for decades. The escalator project started in 2022. They considered trains and cable cars but chose the escalator system. Escalators are already a key part of city life in Chongqing. For example, the Crown escalator, built in the 1990s, is over 350 feet long.
The new escalator took four years to build and cost $23 million. Schindler, a Swiss company, built it. The area has a steep slope, with some parts reaching nearly 60 percent. Engineers used a modular design with glass to make it look less bulky. They also added three viewing platforms with views of the Yangtze River.
The escalator opened on February 17. Before this, people used a long stairway. The escalator now hangs above streets that can take an hour to drive during rush hour. About 9,000 people use the new escalator daily.
China's Infrastructure Focus
The Goddess escalator is one of China's many large architectural projects. Last year, China opened the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge in Guizhou. It is the world's highest bridge, standing about 2,050 feet above the Beipan River.
Infrastructure is important for China's development, especially in inland areas. Dan Wang, head of Eurasia Group’s China team, told the Financial Times that infrastructure investment is a key driver for domestic investment. It's something the government can control.
The Wushan escalator currently costs 3 yuan (about 40 cents) to ride. It is in a trial phase, and officials will decide on a final price after seeing how many people use it.
