In China, escalators are increasingly being used on mountain slopes.
We previously reported on the installation of a 688-meter-long (2,260-foot) escalator in the scenic Enshi Canyon, Hubei Province.
China has now built a 350-metre-long escalator that cost $2.2 million/£1.6 million to take visitors up Tianyu Mountain in Zhejiang province. The escalator even sprays mist on visitors to keep them cool.
Tourists step off the escalator just a short distance from the top of the 300-meter-long [980ft] high peak. From there it is a short walk to the top.
There’s a winding three-kilometre (1.8-mile) road to the top of the mountain, which takes around 50 minutes to walk up. The escalator ride takes around 10 minutes and costs 30 Chinese yuen (£3.30/$4.32). And it’s proving incredibly popular, with videos and images showing the escalator packed to the rafters.
China has built a $2.2 million/£1.6 million 350 metre escalator that whisks visitors up Tianyu Mountain in Zhejiang province. It even sprays mist on them to keep them cool.
There is a winding road to the top of the mountain which takes about 50 minutes to walk. The escalator ride takes about 10 minutes and costs 30 Chinese yuen (£3.30/$4.32)
An employee of the tourism development company in Chun’an City said China Daily: ‘In the beginning we considered building a cable car.
‘However, given the limited transport capacity of the cable car and the high safety risk, the escalator is relatively safer and has a high transport capacity.’
While many praised the staircase for its accessibility, others called the structure a blot on the landscape.
One user, ‘Jorge Fernandez’, commented: ‘This is a great idea for those of us who cannot climb to the top due to physical limitations.’
‘M.ch4rmaland3r10’ agreed: ‘While I really enjoyed climbing the mountain, I think this is an inclusive way for older people or people with disabilities to enjoy the journey up.’
But ‘Magellan-s2p’ said ‘it takes away some of its charm’ and ‘Youxkio’ claimed: ‘This is just the beginning. Soon even Everest will have its own escalators.’
Tourists are dropped off at the Tianyushan Scenic Spot, a short distance from the mountaintop, and can easily reach the summit on foot
The Enshi Canyon escalator cost approximately £4.3 million/$5.6 million and takes 18 minutes to get from start to finish.
Approximately 7,300 people per hour can be transported from the top of the site all the way down to the gorge.
A spokesperson for Enshi Grand Canyon Scenic Spot told MailOnline: ‘Tourists can take the escalator to go all the way down. It improves the level of comfort during their journey.’
The Enshi Canyon escalator (above) cost around £4.3 million / $5.6 million and takes 18 minutes to ride from end to end
At Enshi Canyon (above), approximately 7,300 people can be transported from the top of the site all the way down to the canyon every hour