China News Service / YouTube
The new escalator system makes life easier for residents of the steep city of Chongqing, known as the “mountain city”.
Residents of Wushan County, in southwest China, have made their daily routines much easier after the opening of the Wushan Goddess Escalatora huge vertical transport system designed to facilitate movement on steep terrain.
The escalator, opened on February 17 during Chinese New Year celebrations, is considered the longest outdoor urban escalator system in the world. Located in Chongqing, the project aims to improve the mobility of residents who previously had to face long and difficult journeys through steep streets and narrow mountain trails.
For many residents, everyday tasks like going to work, visiting family or grocery shopping before required an exhausting one-hour climb. The new escalator system now reduces this journey to around 20 minutes, offering a faster and more accessible route between neighborhoods.
The system extends over 905 metros along the vertical axis of Avenida da Deusa and reaches an altitude of 242 meters, which corresponds to approximately the height of an 80-story building. Rather than cutting directly into the mountainside, engineers designed the structure to follow the natural contours of the terrainpreserving views of the Wu Gorge and the famous Three Gorges region, says .
More than a simple escalator, the project is a complex network of transport infrastructures. Includes 21 escalatorseight elevators, four moving walkways and several pedestrian walkways. The clear glass facades allow passengers to enjoy panoramic views while ascending or descending the mountain.
The system was also built to withstand Chongqing’s challenging geography and climate. Known as the “Mountain City“, Chongqing is famous for its extreme vertical layout, with neighborhoods built into cliffs and slopes. Transportation networks often operate on multiple levels and unusual infrastructure solutions are common.
In addition to its innovation, the project is expected to play a fundamental role in improving local mobility. The escalator connects riverside pathways to essential services such as hospitals, schools and museums, creating a high-capacity pedestrian pathway through previously difficult terrain.
