China might not really go in for letting its citizens use the internet or keeping track of its elderly population, but the country seems pretty big on building Great Wall-sized tourist destinations.
To complement some of its other grandiose builds, China erected a 2,257-foot-long sightseeing escalator — the world’s longest such structure — in the Enshi Grand Canyon in Hubei province.
Built from sustainable wood, tile, steel and concrete, the eco-conscious central China attraction has the ability to move 7,300 tourists through the scenic canyon per hour and costs $3 per ride.
The escalator opened earlier this month and project backers anticipate it will carry 300,000 guests each year, according to China Daily.
While it is undoubtedly a massive feat for engineering, we can’t help but bristle a little at the idea of riding an escalator through nature. It may have been built with some eco-consciousness, but can they really promise that the perpetual noise and machinery — to say nothing of the 300K people a year — won’t adversely affect the surrounding ecosystems? We’re skeptical.
But if you do find yourself aboard the escalator one day, heed this word to the wise: Don’t be like NBA player Bobby Brown at the Great Wall and tag your name. You’ll regret it.
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