Chongqing is poised to unveil its latest feat in urban vertical transportation when the Wushan Goddess Escalator opens on Feb 17, the first day of Chinese New Year, local authorities said on Wednesday.

The escalator is undergoing trial operations from Feb 12 to 16, allowing residents and tourists to experience its convenience for free during daylight hours without needing a reservation.

Nestled in the mountainous terrain of Wushan county of Chongqing, the Wushan Goddess Escalator is a pioneering project along the vertical axis of Goddess Avenue. This extensive network comprises 21 escalators, eight elevators (including accessible ones on footbridges), four moving walkways, two pedestrian bridges, and two cross-line passages.

It spans approximately 905 meters, surpassing the length of the Chongqing Crown Escalator, and boasts an impressive elevation gain of over 240 meters, the equivalent of an 80-story building.

According to local authorities, once operational, this ambitious project will slash travel time between the upper and lower sections of Goddess Avenue from nearly an hour to just 20 minutes. The trip offers a novel perspective of the breathtaking Three Gorges and Wu Gorge scenery.