The thought of walking along a five-foot-wide path coiled around the side of a mountain like a python on its prey while suspended 4,600 feet in the air is enough to make many people get a bit wobbly in the knees. But take that same path, and give it a clear glass bottom, and even those who deny a fear of heights may begin to sweat a little.
Well, now you don’t have to just imagine this path, you can experience it. The Coiling Dragon Cliff recently opened on Tianmen Mountain in the southern Chinese province of Hunan and offers tourists a chance to venture along a 100-meter-long, glass-bottomed walkway floating over a 4,600-foot drop.
In addition to surreal views of the surrounding mountainous landscape, the walkway overlooks Tongtian Avenue, a winding, 99-turn road weaving back and forth up the mountain. The new Coiling Dragon Cliff joins Zhangjiajie National Forest Park’s two other skywalks and the longest glass-bottomed bridge (1,410 feet) in the world.
If that still hasn’t satiated your inner daredevil, a cable car that picks people up at a nearby railroad and deposits them at the top of Tianmen Mountain, a ride totaling around 30 minutes from start to finish and one that is said to be the world's longest cable car ride, is also among the mountain's attractions.
Naturally, the first question that pops into most people’s minds with glass-bottomed structures is safety. And in an effort to prove just how safe these glass-bottomed structures are, park authorities deliberately cracked the glass of one of the bridge’s panels and drove a Volvo XC90, which has a curb weight around 4,300 pounds, over it.
They also treated the glass like a "Test Your Strength" carnival game and smashed it with sledgehammers. None of the tests resulted in completely breaking through any of the three layers of glass.
Related Stories
Sponsored | Glass and Glazing | May 29, 2018
A shape-shifting aesthetic and energy efficiency define Manhattan’s iconic VIA 57 West
An audacious residential structure in New York City preserves spectacular outdoor views while minimizing solar heat gain.
Sponsored | | May 24, 2018
Accelerate Live! sponsor talk: The impact of new fire rated glazing technologies to design, performance, and the environment
In this 10-minute sponsor talk at BD+C’s Accelerate Live! conference (May 10, 2018, Chicago), Tim Nass, VP of Sales with SAFTI FIRST Fire Rated Glazing Solutions, details emerging applications for fire rated glazing technology.
| Apr 27, 2018
SAFTI FIRST receives U.S. Patent for fire resistive glass floor system up to 2 hours
USA-made GPX FireFloor System receives U.S. Patent 9,926,709 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office
Sponsored | Glass and Glazing | Apr 4, 2018
The benefits of well-designed spaces in today's public workplace
Combining today’s collaborative spaces with workers’ needs.
75 Top Building Products | Mar 22, 2018
101 Top Products: Glass + Glazing
Among the best glass + glazing products included in BD+C's Top 101 Products report are Guardian Industries' CrystalBlue Glass, SageGlass's Electrochromic Glass, and Technical Glass Products’ Fireframes TimberLine Series.
Sponsored | Glass and Glazing | Mar 20, 2018
'A sense of place': Connectivity and healing at ProMedica Health and Wellness Center
With 23 interconnected standard clinic modules, the center is designed for ease of movement for patients, staff and supplies.
Glass and Glazing | Mar 5, 2018
New $5 Billion Apple Headquarters Has a Glass Problem
The substantial use of glass on the interior of Apple Park has caused headaches for some employees, literally.
Sponsored | Glass and Glazing | Feb 1, 2018
Subtle or striking, always flexible
Interior design possibilities with the latest interior glass products
Sponsored | Glass and Glazing | Nov 21, 2017
Back-painted glass: Luxury effects made easy
Products that give an elevated energy to their environment are important for builders and designers to consider.