China installs gigantic escalators to replace walking up the mountain.

Lazy tourists visiting the scenic mountainous areas in Zhejiang Province, China can now skip the hike and take giant escalators hundreds of meters long to reach the best viewpoints.​

Tour operators in Zhejiang Province, China have installed giant escalators on the mountains to help tourists access the most beautiful sceneries with minimal effort. The stunning views that were previously only accessible by walking on precarious trails are now available to anyone willing to take one of these escalators in just seconds, or at most a few minutes. For example, Tanyu Mountain, located in Chun'an County, Zhejiang, stands only 350 meters high, but due to the rugged terrain, tourists had to hike around three mountains to reach the summit, making it inaccessible for the elderly and young children. However, thanks to the new escalators, anyone can now reach the peak of Tanyu Mountain with almost no effort.
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“Our original purpose in creating this escalator was to solve the transportation problem when hiking,” said a worker involved in the installation of the giant escalator. “Initially, we considered building a cable car. However, due to the limited transport capacity of the cable car and high security risks, escalators are relatively safer and have a high transport capacity, able to meet the demand of the scenic area.”

Although the escalators have significant accessibility benefits, many find them more bothersome than beneficial. Hiking enthusiasts believe that such strange devices take away the joy of the entire mountain experience as they do not require physical effort.

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“So what’s the benefit of hiking? I think that joy is gone,” a critic wrote on social media.

“Don’t you think the escalators detract from the natural beauty of the mountain?” another complained.

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The concept of “pain-free hiking” is not widely accepted by everyone, but it has certainly gained a significant fanbase.


A satisfied tourist said, “I haven’t taken a single step to get nearly to the top of the mountain, and I haven’t missed any of the scenic spots.”
“It’s wonderful for the elderly and children. You don’t have to climb yourself. Just stand on the escalator. Simply put, my child is happy, and I’m happy too,” added a young mother.

Videos of the 350-meter escalator system at Tanyu Mountain have recently gone viral, but this isn’t the only escalator system in Zhejiang Province. The Shenxianju tourist area in Taizhou has a 104-meter escalator called the South Sky Ladder that was installed about three years ago.