CLIMBING a gargantuan mountain is home to the world’s tallest and fastest elevator, complete with glass walls for intrepid tourists.

At more than 1,000 feet tall, breathtaking images show just how high the terrifying elevator rises, surrounded by sandstone pillars three times its size.

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Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in China’s Hunan province is home to the world’s tallest outdoor elevator that overlooks the natural landscape, nicknamed the Bailong Elevator.

Aerial footage shows one of the double-decker elevators cars climbing the edge of the mountain – filled with brave tourists peering through the glass walls.

Another clip captured inside one of the cars looks out over the verdant forest vista where sandstone pillars emerge from the forest floor and tower over the elevator.

The tallest pillar is three times the size of the elevator and is over 3,000 feet tall.

The Bailong Elevator, constructed of steel and glass, stands out from nature and is its own pillar.

Construction of this gargantuan elevator began in 1999, and after receiving a $20 million investment, it was opened to the public in 2002.

The elevator was carefully constructed into a quartz sandstone cliff – with tunnels and shafts carved to accommodate the three glass double-decker cars.

In total, the cars reach heights of 1,070 feet – the lower 505 feet being embedded inside the mountain wall and the upper 565 feet made of an exposed steel derrick.

Like clockwork, all three elevators operate in parallel, which can distract from the view of the stunning sandstone pillars and surrounding natural landscape.

After undergoing a speed upgrade in 2015, the cars complete the terrifying climb in just one minute and 32 seconds.

And for those intrepid daredevils, it takes 68 minutes and 26 seconds to freely climb the exposed upper part of the elevator – according to French climbing legend Jean-Michel Casanova.

Each elevator has a carrying capacity of 4,900 kg, with 50 passengers in each car.

This makes Bailong not only the world’s tallest outdoor elevator, but also the world’s tallest double-decker tourist elevator.

Additionally, it is the world’s fastest passenger elevator with the highest load capacity.

Despite its impressive scale and world recordsthe gargantuan elevator has been at the forefront of the controversy.

For 10 months between 2002 and 2003 it was closed for safety reasons, probably due to being in an earthquake-prone area.

And environmentalists have cried out after the massive steel mobile was built in a UNESCO World Heritage site and protected national park.

They claimed it would attract more tourists to the already popular site – but fans of the lift criticized the claim, saying it had reduced damage to mountain trails thanks to the ease of tourist access to the ‘elevator.

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Despite the criticism, the Bailong continues to be a very popular site with tourists and locals alike – especially as a ticket only costs around £7.90 each way.

Likewise, nestled in the middle of a forest, an imposing structure almost as tall as London’s iconic Shard rises considerably above the trees.

But instead of being a luxury skyscraper full of offices or apartments, no one lives there – because the giant tower is entirely dedicated to elevator testing.

The TK Elevator Testturm, located at an impressive height of 807 feet, is a state-of-the-art facility designed to push elevators. technology to new heights.

Built in 2017 by engineering giant TK Elevator, the structure houses 12 shafts where next-generation elevators are tested, including high-speed models and revolutionary “MULTI” systems capable of moving both vertically and horizontally.

THE FIVE TALLEST BUILDINGS IN THE WORLD

HERE are the five tallest buildings in the world.

1. Burj Khalifa, United Arab Emirates

At 2,717 feet tall, the structure in Dubai has been the tallest since 2009. It has broken several world records, including the world’s largest sound and light show staged on a single building.

2. Merdeka 118, Malaysia

Located in the capital Kuala Lumpur, this building is a mega-tall skyscraper spanning 2,227 feet in height. It is also the tallest building in Southeast Asia and Malaysia. The building’s spire was finally completed in 2022.

3. Shanghai Tower, China

Synonymous with its name, it is located in Shanghai and is the tallest building in China at 2,073 feet. It is also the tallest and largest LEED Platinum certified building in the world since 2015. LEED is awarded to green structures that are environmentally friendly.

4. Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower, Saudi Arabia

A seven-skyscraper government complex in Mecca is intended to accommodate pilgrims and its tallest tower stands at 1,972 feet. It is also the sixth tallest freestanding structure in the world.

5. Ping An International Financial Center, China

Standing 1,966 feet tall, this skyscraper was completed in 2017 and is the second tallest building in China. It is also the second largest skyscraper in the world by area and holds the record for the tallest observation deck in a building.