Reported on September 1, 2025 by Epoch Times, the self-proclaimed longest mountain escalator in Asia – the visitor transportation system at Jiangxi’s Lingshan Scenic Area spent about 130 million yuan (RMB, same below) in construction funds, which were borrowed. Following controversy, the Lingshan ultra-long escalator, after just one week of testing, announced a temporary suspension of operation.
On August 31, it was reported that the Lingshan Scenic Area in Jiangxi, with the installation of electric escalators on an entire mountain, became a hot topic on social media.
According to mainland media reports, a few years ago, the mountain escalator project at Lingshan Scenic Area was included in the work report of the Guangxin District government in Shangrao City, with the specific plan having changed over time. The final plan for the mountain escalator project was considered “radical”, with a total length of 684 meters and a total vertical height increased to 267.5 meters, consisting of five sets of automatic escalators and 3 sections of pathways, with a total investment of 127 million yuan. One of the aims of the project was to achieve “painless mountain climbing” for visitors.
Public information shows that Lingshan’s main peak ranges from an altitude of 1000 to 1400 meters, with the highest peak, Tianti Peak, reaching 1496 meters, known for its steep terrain and unique rock landscapes. Generally, it takes 3 to 4 hours for visitors to hike to the summit.
The escalator is located in the southeast corner of Lingshan Scenic Area, named Yunding Tiandi, and began trial operation on July 25. This escalator, running through steep rock cliffs, directly connects to the top of Dongtai Peak, with a total of ten levels, transporting visitors to a peak equivalent to 88 floors high, taking more than 20 minutes one way.
In July of this year, a video of riding the escalator to climb Lingshan in Jiangxi was shared by an internet user on a social platform, sparking discussions.
Building straight escalators and escalators in famous mountains and rivers has become a popular practice in the construction of mainland scenic spots in recent years. Many mountainous scenic areas have installed electric escalators such as Shexianju in Zhejiang, Tianyu Mountain in Chun’an, Hangzhou, and Niushoushan in Nanjing, all offering “painless mountain climbing” for visitors.
While mountain escalators provide a new option for convenient mountain climbing, they have also raised concerns about “possibly damaging the original natural landscape and occupying public funds.”
According to mainland media reports, this uniformity of mountain scenic spots across different regions is a sign of serious homogenization in tourism design. The proliferation of scenic elevators, to a certain extent, is the result of elevator companies promoting excess capacity after the downturn in the real estate industry.
Critics argue that from the perspective of actual operation, these projects require substantial investment, high operation and maintenance costs, and a long payback period, casting doubt on their long-term benefits. In some places, as a precedent, to ensure the customer base for mountain elevators, many scenic areas with similar elevators would close mountain trails, forcing visitors to pay for the elevator projects in the area.
More notably, the bidding documents released by Shangrao Lingshan Tourism Development Co., Ltd. show that the funds for the escalator project were entirely borrowed from the government.
Established in 2002, Shangrao Lingshan Tourism Development Co., Ltd. is a wholly state-owned holding company of the Guangxin District State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Office of Shangrao City.
In the 2023 and 2024 “Key Construction Project Plans” successively issued by the Guangxin District of Shangrao, the “Lingshan National Scenic Area Tourism Infrastructure and Public Service Facilities Construction Project,” including the “Scenic Area Visitor Rapid Transport System,” with a total investment of 985 million yuan, were listed. By the end of 2023, 118 million yuan had been invested, and 300 million yuan was planned for 2024.
The project bidding announcement and contract indicate that the funds come from “self-raised funds and special bond funds,” but as of the end of 2023, no actual self-raised funds had been raised, and all funds paid were from special bond funds.
In response, mainland netizens commented: “When it’s not their own money, they are especially generous.” “First repay the local debt.” “Look at the outdoor escalator bridges, they become decorations in just a few years.” “How else to make money if not to build?” “Next, put tiles on the Great Wall.”
Following the controversy surrounding the construction of the mountain escalator, on August 13, the Lingshan Scenic Area in Shangrao announced that the escalator equipment testing had ended, and due to equipment maintenance and issues with supporting facilities, the operation was suspended with immediate effect. The specific opening time will be announced to the public in due course.