'Sky Ladder' via ferrata in Zhangjiajie draws global thrill-seekers

"When I looked at those thousand-meter vertical cliffs wrapped in mist, I immediately knew this was the perfect place to build a via ferrata," said Wang Guanyi, deputy general manager of Qixing Xianshan Cableway, the facility's operator. "The cliffs here are a dream come true for extreme sports fans."

After years of construction, the "sky ladder" opened in November 2024. The route immediately captured the attention of outdoor types worldwide.