Shilin Gorge Glass Platform (Photo : www.tour-beijing.co)
Canada and New Zealand have the CN Tower and SkyCity, known for its revolving towers with thick glass sections on the floor that give a view of the ground. To those with acrophobia, or fear of heights, these two towers are good places to begin conquering fear of high places because the glass floors are still within a closed structure.
However, for the more daring, China just opened a glass-bottom sightseeing platform over Shilin Gorge, located on the outskirts of Beijing, reported Reuters. With an area of 415 square meters and 400 meters from the foot of the cliff, the place is the largest glass-sightseeing platform in the world.
The platform is not for the faint-hearted because the circular platform is open air. There are times when the wind is so strong that visitors would feel themselves being blown over the platform.
Some tourists appear comfortable despite the height and could be seen lying down on the glass floor. Others, though, are seen on all fours, crawling as jitters take over. The structure’s framework is reinforced by titanium alloys, assuring visitors of the strength of the materials used.
However, by 2017, the Shilin Gorge glass platform could be eclipsed by a glass-bottom bridge above the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. It would span 1,410 feet long, measure 20 feet wide and have a height of 984 feet above the ground, reported Fox News.
It is located in the Zhangjiajie National Park in Hunan Province, said to be inspired by the 2009 movie by James Cameron, “Avatar.” The structure, designed by Haim Dotan of Israel, would have 1.9-inch-thick glass panels for floor. Dotan is the designer of the Israel Pavilion of the Expo 2010 Shanghai.
Due to multiple construction delays caused by bad weather and interference of the local governments, the project’s opening has been moved to 2017 from the original January 2016. Only 800 guests would be allowed on the bridge at any given time to avert accidents if too much pressure is placed on the glass and underlying structure.
While these two marvels of architecture are impressive, nothing would beat conquering fear of heights than what 15 school children, aged 6 to 15, from the Sichuan Province county of Zhajoue do, which is to scale every two weeks an 800-meter cliff using on an old bamboo stairs to reach their school in Atuleer Village.
