Khaberni - The Chinese authorities in Wushan County, Chongqing Municipality, launched the "Wushan Goddess Escalator" system, the longest outdoor escalator of its kind in the world, amid celebratory atmosphere coinciding with dragon dances and red lanterns in celebration of the Chinese New Year.
This mega project has ended decades of hardship for the region's residents; where going to work, visiting family or even grocery shopping used to require a full hour's journey through harsh slopes and narrow, winding roads, residents can now travel with complete ease in a comfortable journey that takes no more than 20 minutes.
An engineering marvel that touches the clouds
The system is distinguished by its unique design that "hugs the mountain", relying on an advanced mix of elevators and walkways that follow the natural terrain instead of cutting a straight path through the heart of the cliff.
This traffic system extends along the vertical axis of "Goddess Street" with a total length of 905 meters, climbing a staggering height of 242.14 meters, which is approximately the height of an 80-story skyscraper.
The system consists of a complex network of machines that wrap around the mountain's column, including: 21 escalators, 8 electric elevators, 4 moving walkways, and a series of pedestrian bridges.
This system was built with high durability to face the rugged terrain and harsh weather conditions of Chongqing, and it is equipped with transparent glass facades that allow passengers to enjoy the scenic views of the Wu Gorge and the famous "Three Gorges" area.
A vital artery for the city of mountains
Chongqing is known as "the city of mountains" due to its extreme geographical complexity; where trains pass through residential buildings and subway stations are located deeper than some military bunkers.
With the opening of the new escalator, the previous record held by the famous "Crown" (Crown Escalator) escalator was broken, making the new system the longest globally in open areas.
This system operates as a high-capacity urban backbone, directly connecting coastal roads to vital public services such as museums, hospitals, and schools, thus integrating previously isolated neighborhoods into a three-dimensional transport network.
Trial operation phase
Officials announced that the system is currently in the trial operation phase, with the cost of a ride for passengers being just 3 yuan (about 40 US cents). During this period, specialists will monitor performance and analyze data to determine future permanent tariffs.
