China's terrifying glass elevator climbs 326m cliff in seconds

Footage of a ride in a glass elevator in China shows one of the most spectacular, and terrifying, modes of transport in the world. The lift climbs 326 metres up a steep cliff face, delivering passengers to a viewing platform with breathtaking views in around 88 seconds. But the screams heard during the journey make it clear that not everyone manages to keep their composure.

This is the Bailong elevator, also known as the "Hundred Dragons Elevator", located in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Hunan Province, China. Opened to the public in 2002, it is recognised as the world's tallest outdoor tourist elevator and appears in the Guinness Book of Records.

Screams inside the glass: China's elevator that rockets hundreds of metres above the abyss (Photo: Social media)

The elevator is built partly inside the rock and partly on a steel structure attached to the cliff. Its cabins are fitted with glass walls, allowing passengers to watch the scenery during the ascent. The moment the lift emerges from the interior of the mountain, the view opens up all at once, and the massive stone pillars and forests below become an inseparable part of the journey.

The height and speed make the experience particularly intense. Instead of climbing for hours along mountain trails, visitors can reach the viewing areas in a matter of moments.

For anyone with a fear of heights, though, the ride in the transparent cabin clinging to the cliff wall can be an especially stressful experience. Yet even nervous tourists grit their teeth and go through with it, because the view waiting at the summit is one of the main reasons for Zhangjiajie's fame. The area is known for thousands of sandstone pillars that rise above the forests.