BEIJING, China (Reuters) — Those suffering from fear of heights in China have a new location to challenge themselves with the opening of what the owners are calling the world’s largest viewing platform.
Jutting out into a valley near Beijing, the Shilingxia (Stone Forest Valley) platform offers views of the surrounding countryside and the villages far below.
“The suspended bridge is 32.8 meters, 11 meters longer than the one in the U.S.. At present it’s the longest in the world, secondly, its glass area is 415 square meters at present — this is the largest in the world for glass viewing platforms. The third thing is that this is the first time that titanium is being used,” said scenic area manager Li Shuang, who says the structure represents the first time Titanium has been used for tourism purposes.
Some visitors had a hard time getting round the platform.
“I’m scared, I don’t dare to look down, I’m just looking straight ahead, I’m just keeping a grip on the railing as I walk, it’s my first time and at the beginning I felt a bit faint, now I’m getting used to it but I’m still going to hold onto this (the railing). Us old people don’t have as much guts as the young people.”
The platform opened to the public on May 1, 2016. It’s 768 meters above sea level and juts out 400 meters above the ground.
