Bailong Elevator, China: World's Highest Elevator

You take these metal boxes to work every morning. Mechanical pressing of buttons and a (fake) excited voice announcing your floor number. Boring right? But not if you’re in China and about to ride 1,070 feet in the Hundred Dragons Elevator aka the Bailong Elevator.

The first thought that comes to the mind when you look at the structure is the impossibility of its very creation. A glass elevator built along the length of a cliff 1,070 feet high! If this engineering feat doesn’t dazzle you, these facts surely will.

Situated in the Wulingyuan area of Zhangjjajie, China, the construction of the Bailong Elevator began in 1999 and was first opened to the public in 2002. It took a mere three years to build this architectural marvel! The Bailong Elevator also holds a place in the Guinness World Records of being the world’s highest elevator.

The journey starts with the first few seconds in the underground shaft. The lift then zooms up 1,070 feet and you’re treated to surreal views of the surrounding humongous sandstone mountains, some of which are more than 2,000 feet tall. If you suffer from acrophobia, don’t worry, there’s another way to reach the mountain top. All you have to do is hike 999 steps. Don’t forget to check with the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park before making a trip here as the lift might not be operational during the rainy season.

The area around Bailong Elevator has a Hollywood connection as well. Scenes from the popular James Cameron movie Avatar were filmed here. You may recognize the Hallelujah Mountains of Pandora from this region.

Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie or a nature lover, the Bailong Elevator will not fail your expectations on both accounts.