The Hundred Dragons Elevator is the tallest outdoor lift in the world.
If you are afraid of heights, then this activity is not for you. The Bailong Elevator, also known as the Hundred Dragon Elevator, transports tourists 330m up the side of a massive mountain range in China's Hunan Province.
A ride in a glass elevator car with a capacity of up to 50 people at a time or 1380 people per hour offers stunning, if not dizzying, views of the plain.
Bailong Elevator, whose name translates as Hundred Dragons Elevator, was decided to be built in 1999. The elevator was necessary in order to deliver tourists to the 330-meter mountain. Before the construction of the elevator, tourists could only climb on foot, and since the rock is almost sheer, few could dare to do so.
The project was met with fierce criticism from environmentalists, who were unhappy with the fact that it was located in the central part of the conservation area.
Shafts and tunnels were cut into the rock to provide the elevator infrastructure. In addition, in the event of an earthquake or natural disaster, people from all three elevator cabins can be quickly evacuated.
Supporters of the project say that these lifts, with the largest passenger capacity in the world, have saved mountain paths from being overloaded.
But their opponents point out that the region, which is visited by 5 million people every year, is already oversaturated with tourists and another attraction that will increase their number will only harm the environment.
Despite the protests, the elevator caters to tourists, and is really helping to boost the popularity of this Hunan region.
After the facility was commissioned in 2002, it was temporarily closed for safety reasons. After some improvements, the elevator resumed operation in 2003 and is now a cult place among tourists. The lift allows you to save 3 hours of walking and in just one minute takes travelers to the mountain, which offers a beautiful view of the valley with quartzite pillars.