Tourists on a boat take sightseeing in the Longlin Palace Karst Cave on April 25, 2007 in Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Hunan Province, China. (Photo : Getty Images)
In the recent week-long National Day holiday observed in China, a new project unfolded. The 688-meter-long escalator made its debut in Enshi City in Hubei Province.
With already quite a number of tourists making their way to the renowned Enshi Grand Canyon, the world's longest sightseeing escalator has been a major instrument in gaining global attention.
The escalator may not be the longest but it definitely comes close to breaking the mark.
The world's longest escalator is in Hong Kong. It stretches for up to 800 meters. But nobody really cares because it's a commercially driven tool, not a sight that would attract a tourist.
Comparatively, Enshi's sightseeing escalator is solely crafted for luring in tourists and mesmerizing them with the beautiful sights it has to offer. Visitors who want good sightseeing that makes them tranquil are keen to ride this escalator.
But what is the catch? It's a good one. According to China Daily, visitors get the perks of riding an escalator that offers them a bundle of goodness and freshness for only 20 yuan ($2.98).
How safe is the escalator? It is built with a steel concrete structure which is almost impossible to break, and can carry up to 7,300 people per hour. The outer structure is carved with wood to give it a natural and raw look.
The project was put under supervision of Mr. Xiong Yan at the Central-South Architectural Design Institute. The central purpose of the rapidly fame-gaining escalator is to protect the ecology.
The escalator is shaped along an auto-sum outline at the Qixingzhai scenic spot located inside the Enshi Grand Canyon. This is a must-visit place for everyone.
Vine plants have been planted along the escalator to help integrate with the surrounding landscape. Such projects should be given international preference not only because they promote tourism, but also make the public aware of preserving the natural ecology.
