A 688-meter-long sightseeing escalator made it sdebut during the past week-long National Day holiday, contributing to tourists’ visits at Enshi Grand Canyonin Enshicity, Central China’s Hubei province.
“The escalator is the world’s longest sightseeing one, costing each visitor 20 yuan ($2.98)”, said an insider, who went on saying that visitors can enjoy the beautiful sights by taking less time and effort thanks to the escalator.
Using a steel concrete structure and a wooden structure, the escalator was built along the mountain in a “∑” shape at Qixingzhai scenic spot, a must-see at Enshi Grand Canyon.
“The whole engineering plan focused on ecological protection, which can be seen from the wooden structure and grey tile at the top of the escalator”, said Xiong Yan, who is in charge of the project and works at Central-South Architectural Design Institute.
Xiong said that many vine plants were planted along the escalator to integrate with the surrounding landscape.
It’s reported that the escalator can carry 7,300 visitors per hour in theory and is estimated to carry 600,000 visitors altogether in one year.
Relax and enjoy the view: An aerial view of the 2,260-foot-long sightseeing escalator at the Enshi Grand Canyon in China
18 minutes from the top to the bottom: Tourists take the sightseeing escalator, branded as the world’s longest
Environmentally friendly? The escalator is made from local sustainable sources and plants have been planted right next to it
That’s a busy escalator: It can transport 7,300 people an hour from the top of the site right down to the canyon
Expensive contraption: It cost some 32 million to build (£3.8 million) and takes 18 minutes to travel from start to finish
Stunning view: Plants and trees have been placed alongside the escalator in the hope it will blend into the environment
The escalator was built in two phases with the final phase fully opened to the public on October 1
Greenery: The escalator is made from local sustainable sources and plants have been planted right next to the machine
Tourists take the ‘world’s longest sightseeing escalator’ made from local sustainable materials
Tourists ride on the escalator during the Golden Week holdidays, one of China’s busiest tourist seasons
Tourists ride on the escalator during the Golden Week holdidays, one of China’s busiest tourist seasons
