Shilinxia Glass Viewing Platform

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Shilinxia Glass Viewing Platform
石林峡飞碟玻璃观景台
Huangsongyuxiang, Beijing, China
(246) feet high / (75) meters high
(197) foot span / (60) meter span
2016

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If you referred to the Shilinxia Glass Viewing Platform as a marvel of engineering and a soaring architectural wonder, you might be right. But if you also thought it was a strange, ghastly, outlandish and odd looking monstrosity more like a UFO then you would also be right. The resemblance to an otherworldly creation from an old science fiction film is not just a coincidence but part of the theme with an actual flying saucer piloted by a couple of aliens parked right in the middle of the glass platform. What these blue creatures have to do with sedimentary sandstone formations that are millions of years old is anyone's guess but you cannot accuse the owners of not wanting to get your attention.

Whatever people think of the Shilinxia Glass Viewing Platform, you cannot ignore its scale and size. Supported by a giant arch-hoop tower, the actual circular platform is partially held up by a series of cable stays not unlike a bridge. The huge glass "wheel" looks to be around 20 meters across with 36 separate glass panels. A straight walkway with more then two dozen more glass panels leads to the overlook guaranteeing the Shilinxia Glass Platform some kind of size record for these types of cantilevered platforms.

Making the Shilinxia Glass platform a high capacity structure was probably a smart move on the owners part given its proximity to Beijing's huge middle class population looking for a weekend getaway in the mountains. The Shilinxia Scenic Area is part of the Jingdong Stone Forest Gorge and is also referred to as the Pinggu Stone Forest Gorge and the Pinggu Huangsongyu National Geopark.


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Shilinxia Glass Viewing Platform satellite image.


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Shilinxia Glass Viewing Platform location map.


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