WUSHAN, China (Kashmir English): China has officially opened what is being labelled as the world’s longest outdoor escalator, stretching through the mountainous city of Wushan in Chongqing municipality.
Known as the “Goddess” escalator, the massive infrastructure project spreads over half a mile, cutting through steep terrain and connecting different levels of the city.
The journey from bottom to top would take around 21 minutes. The project officials term the infrastructure as the largest escalator system of its kind in the world.
Huang Wei, head of the design team at China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group, said there are no other such projects currently under construction or completed nationwide.
The infrastructure is not a single continuous escalator but a network of around two dozen escalators and lifts, making it one seamless route.
The escalator components were designed by Swiss company Schindler Group and manufactured in Shanghai.
The company has also contributed extensively to Chongqing’s metro system, supplying around 1,400 escalators.
The “Goddess” escalator
The “Goddess” escalator quickly became popular in Wushan, a city already known for its iconic Crown escalator developed in the 1990s.
With fare set at approximately $0.43 per hour (one way), around 9,000 people use it daily.
Nearly 450,000 rides were recorded during the Spring Festival as the escalator offers a convenient alternative to physically demanding climbs in the mountainous region.
A visitor, 44-year-old Xie Hongmin, hoped similar infrastructure be introduced in his hometown, noting that walking in such terrain can be exhausting.
The project is a manifestation of China’s continued focus on innovative urban transport solutions, especially in cities with challenging geography.
