China’s cliff-clinging glass skywalk opens

By Elaine Yu, CNN
1 minute read
Updated 5:48 AM EDT, Thu August 4, 2016
Aerial view of the 100-meter-long and 1.6-meter-wide glass skywalk overlooking the "Tianmen Tongtian Avenue" on the cliff of Tianmen Mountain (or Tianmenshan Mountain) in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Zhangjiajie city, central China's Hunan province, 1 August 2016. A 100-meter-long and 1.6-meter-wide glass skywalk in Zhangjiajie Tianmenshan National Park opened to visitors on Monday (1 August 2016). The Coiling Dragon Cliff skywalk is the third glass skywalk on the Tianmen Mountain (or Tianmenshan Mountain) in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in central China's Henan province. It oversees the "Tianmen Tongtian Avenue" (Avenue toward Heaven), featuring a total of 99 road turns, layers after another, known as "the first highway wonders".
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Aerial view of the 100-meter-long and 1.6-meter-wide glass skywalk overlooking the "Tianmen Tongtian Avenue" on the cliff of Tianmen Mountain (or Tianmenshan Mountain) in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Zhangjiajie city, central China's Hunan province, 1 August 2016. A 100-meter-long and 1.6-meter-wide glass skywalk in Zhangjiajie Tianmenshan National Park opened to visitors on Monday (1 August 2016). The Coiling Dragon Cliff skywalk is the third glass skywalk on the Tianmen Mountain (or Tianmenshan Mountain) in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in central China's Henan province. It oversees the "Tianmen Tongtian Avenue" (Avenue toward Heaven), featuring a total of 99 road turns, layers after another, known as "the first highway wonders".
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CNN  — 

There’s a new way to enjoy Hunan’s mountainous landscapes – though you might be too terrified to appreciate the stunning views.

A 100-meter-long (110 yards) glass skywalk, stretching around a cliff on Tianmen Mountain in southern China, has opened to the public.

Some visitors could be seen clinging to the cliff’s side, others rolling around on the 1.6-meter-wide (5 feet) glass floor, selfie stick held high.

Called the “Coiling Dragon Cliff” skywalk, the glass walkway is the third of its kind in the Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area.

The dramatic walkway overlooks Tongtian Avenue, a mountain road with 99 turns that snakes up Tianmen Mountain in Hunan’s Zhangjiajie National Forest Park.

Its name means “Avenue to the Sky.”

Related article 10 things China does better than anywhere else

Cable cars and glass-bottom bridges

This isn’t the first Zhangjiajie attraction to take advantage of the area’s stunning surroundings.

French company Poma constructed cable cars that pick passengers up from a nearby railway station and deliver them to the top of Tianmen Mountain.

Meanwhile, the world’s longest glass-bottom bridge was set to open in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in May, although it’s been delayed.

The bridge is 430 meters (1,410 feet) long, six meters (20 feet) wide and hovers over a 300-meter (984 feet) vertical drop.

For more scary-but-awesome viewing platforms check out the gallery below.

Visitors to Dachstein's Stairway to Nothingness must first cross Austria's highest bridge, which is 328 feet (100 meters) long and straddles a drop of 1,300 feet (396 meters). Then they face 14 steps that descend from the cliff face and which are surrounded by glass walls.
Dachstein Stairway to Nothingness (Austria) —
Visitors to Dachstein's Stairway to Nothingness must first cross Austria's highest bridge, which is 328 feet (100 meters) long and straddles a drop of 1,300 feet (396 meters). Then they face 14 steps that descend from the cliff face and which are surrounded by glass walls.
courtesy derdachstein.at
The Alpspitze viewing platform comprises two steel beams, both of which measure 79 feet (24 meters) in length. Visitors brave enough to walk to the end of the glass-walled platforms can look 3,281 feet (1,000 meters) down into the valley.
AlpspiX viewing platform (Germany) —
The Alpspitze viewing platform comprises two steel beams, both of which measure 79 feet (24 meters) in length. Visitors brave enough to walk to the end of the glass-walled platforms can look 3,281 feet (1,000 meters) down into the valley.
courtesy Benedikt Lechner
The Skywalk extends 624 feet (190 meters) into the Kinzua Gorge. Glass panels allow visitors to peer into the gorge below.
Kinzua Skywalk (United States) —
The Skywalk extends 624 feet (190 meters) into the Kinzua Gorge. Glass panels allow visitors to peer into the gorge below.
courtesy kinzua skywalk
Located on the roof of the CN Tower's restaurant at a height of 1,168 feet (356 meters), the EdgeWalk in Toronto allows visitors to slip into climbing harnesses and walk around the edge of Canada's tallest structure. There's also a glass floor 1,122 feet (342 meters) above ground level, and although this glass is only 2.5 inches thick, it's strong enough to hold 14 hippos -- if they could fit in the elevator.
EdgeWalk CN Tower (Canada) —
Located on the roof of the CN Tower's restaurant at a height of 1,168 feet (356 meters), the EdgeWalk in Toronto allows visitors to slip into climbing harnesses and walk around the edge of Canada's tallest structure. There's also a glass floor 1,122 feet (342 meters) above ground level, and although this glass is only 2.5 inches thick, it's strong enough to hold 14 hippos -- if they could fit in the elevator.
courtesy cn tower
Visitors who step into one of the Ledge boxes in Chicago can see for 50 miles across four states. Six million people have ventured into the boxes since 2009, 500 people have proposed in them and visitors can now even get married in them.
The Ledge (United States) —
Visitors who step into one of the Ledge boxes in Chicago can see for 50 miles across four states. Six million people have ventured into the boxes since 2009, 500 people have proposed in them and visitors can now even get married in them.
courtesy skydeck willis tower
The Cliffwalk is a 700-foot (213-meter) walkway attached to a granite cliff face above the Capilano River in British Columbia. The highest point is 300 feet (90 meters) above the river.
7. Cliffwalk (Canada) —
The Cliffwalk is a 700-foot (213-meter) walkway attached to a granite cliff face above the Capilano River in British Columbia. The highest point is 300 feet (90 meters) above the river.
courtesy capilano cliffwalk
The Shard in London is the tallest building in Western Europe. The View From The Shard is located on floors 68, 69 and 72. The best panoramas are from floor 72, at a height of 800 feet (244 meters). This open-air observation deck offers 360-degree views of the city.
8. The View from The Shard (England) —
The Shard in London is the tallest building in Western Europe. The View From The Shard is located on floors 68, 69 and 72. The best panoramas are from floor 72, at a height of 800 feet (244 meters). This open-air observation deck offers 360-degree views of the city.
courtesy view from the shard
The lookout, commissioned by the Norwegian Highway Department as part of a project to improve the appearance of the country's tourist routes, allows visitors to look straight down into the Aurlandsfjord, 2,000 feet (609 meters) below.
9. Stegastein lookout (Norway) —
The lookout, commissioned by the Norwegian Highway Department as part of a project to improve the appearance of the country's tourist routes, allows visitors to look straight down into the Aurlandsfjord, 2,000 feet (609 meters) below.
courtesy nils vik
The Tokyo Skytree is the world's third-tallest structure, with a height of 2,080 feet (634 meters), and has Japan's two highest observation decks. The lower one is located at 1,148 feet (350 meters). The upper one, which has floor-to-ceiling windows and 360-degree views of the city, is perched at 1,476 feet (450 meters).
Tokyo Skytree observation decks (Japan) —
The Tokyo Skytree is the world's third-tallest structure, with a height of 2,080 feet (634 meters), and has Japan's two highest observation decks. The lower one is located at 1,148 feet (350 meters). The upper one, which has floor-to-ceiling windows and 360-degree views of the city, is perched at 1,476 feet (450 meters).
courtesy tokyo sky tree
The Top of Tyrol viewing platform was completed in 2008 and provides visitors with spectacular views over 103 peaks. All of the parts -- including 19 tons of steel -- were lowered into place by helicopter.
10. Top of Tyrol Stubai Glacier (Austria) —
The Top of Tyrol viewing platform was completed in 2008 and provides visitors with spectacular views over 103 peaks. All of the parts -- including 19 tons of steel -- were lowered into place by helicopter.
courtesy anto wolfgang zajc
The Dachstein Glacier actually comprises eight glaciers and a visit to this high-altitude, glass-bottomed walkway is a great way to see them all. On a clear day, the Triglav mountains of Slovenia and the forests of the Czech Republic can be seen.
Dachstein Glacier Skywalk (Austria) —
The Dachstein Glacier actually comprises eight glaciers and a visit to this high-altitude, glass-bottomed walkway is a great way to see them all. On a clear day, the Triglav mountains of Slovenia and the forests of the Czech Republic can be seen.
courtesy derdachstein.at
The best views of Italy's Merano region are from this binocular-shaped viewing platform, high above the gardens' huge oak forest. The viewing platform is just one of several within the gardens, which were recently named Italy's most beautiful gardens.
Matteo Thun's Viewing Platform (Italy) —
The best views of Italy's Merano region are from this binocular-shaped viewing platform, high above the gardens' huge oak forest. The viewing platform is just one of several within the gardens, which were recently named Italy's most beautiful gardens.
courtesy sudtirolmarketing
This steel and glass, horseshoe-shaped walkway extends 70 feet (21 meters) over the lip of the Grand Canyon, almost one mile above the valley floor. Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin was the first person to step onto the Skywalk, which cost $30 million to build.
Grand Canyon Skywalk (United States) —
This steel and glass, horseshoe-shaped walkway extends 70 feet (21 meters) over the lip of the Grand Canyon, almost one mile above the valley floor. Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin was the first person to step onto the Skywalk, which cost $30 million to build.
courtesy arizona tourism
13 scary-but-awesome viewing platforms