A mountain resort in Jianxi, China, has invested millions of dollars into a massive network of giant escalators to allow people to reach its mountain peaks effortlessly.

The pain and effort of reaching the top of a mountain used to be part of the whole hiking experience, but at the Lingshan Scenic Area in Eastern China’s Jianxi Province, one will soon be able to reach a 1,500-meter-high summit simply by riding on a bunch of outdoor escalators. Aimed at allowing anyone to reach the popular mountaintop and take in the beauty of the surrounding area, this massive project was kickstarted in 2022 and is scheduled for completion next month. Recent photos and videos shot on location show dozens of interlinked escalators from the foot of the mountain all the way to the top. Although this isn’t China’s only mountain escalator installation, it is considered one of the largest and most complex.

Tanyu Mountain, in China’s Zhejiang Province, was the first to go viral for installing an escalator allowing anyone to reach its 350-meter-high peak in 2023, but several other mountainous scenic areas have since followed its example. Response from the public has been mixed, with some people applauding the initiative for allowing anyone, including the elderly and people with disabilities, to enjoy breathtaking views, and others accusing authorities of taking the fun out of hiking.

 

In Lingshan, visitors had to climb thousands of steps, taking around two hours to reach the top of the 1,500-meter-high mountain, but after the escalator installation is inaugurated next month, people will be able to reach the summit effortlessly, in a matter of minutes.