China’s mountainous regions are increasingly home to huge glass water slides that transform natural valleys, forests and ravines into tourist attractions. The concept has expanded particularly quickly over the past decade, combining steep terrain and waterfalls with twists, drops and inflatable rafts.
Many of these attractions are located in ecological or scenic areas and are offered alongside activities such as hiking, climbing, abseiling and rafting. Their glass construction also gives visitors views of the surrounding landscape while they descend slopes that can reach 400 metres.
The longest example is Red Leaf Aerial Rafting, also known as Hongye Kongpiao, in the Guangwushan Scenic Area near Bazhong, Sichuan. The attraction measures 4,283.701 metres and received a Guinness World Record in June 2025 as the longest glass-bottom slide. Its route includes S-shaped curves and linked 360-degree turns, crossing mountains and valleys while overcoming a 310-metre elevation difference. The ride takes around 20 minutes, depending on the rider’s weight and the strength of the water.
Another record-holder is the Zilongxia slide in Tianzidi, in Tonglu County, Hangzhou, Zhejiang. The World Record Certification awarded it a record in January 2021. Its glass structure runs through a mountainous area featuring bamboo forests and river valleys, covering 2,266.515 metres and descending 400 metres. The route includes turns, drops and spiral sections, with the full ride lasting more than eight minutes.
The Jinyun Puhuayuan Alpine Slide, located on Mount Puhuasi in Lishui, Zhejiang, measures 2,723.08 metres. Guinness recognised it in 2019 as the world’s longest mountain water slide. Designed to resemble a dragon and ending at a river, it descends 226 metres. Inflatable boats can reach speeds of up to 30 km/h, and the attraction includes a rafting experience lasting nearly an hour.
The rapid growth of these attractions has also raised questions about safety. China has a specific standard for glass water slides, GB/T 41121-2021, which has been in force since 2022. It establishes requirements covering construction materials, design, maintenance and inspections.
The Tianzidi slide, for example, was built with high-strength laminated tempered glass mounted on a standardised steel structure. Its construction reportedly included load tests and checks on the connections between glass sections. However, Chinese safety authorities have warned that not all of the approximately 3,000 operating glass slides necessarily comply with safety requirements or construction and material standards.
Despite those concerns, the attractions continue to draw visitors. The available figures indicate that glass water slides in China receive around 200 million users each year, with demand growing from one season to the next.
Sources: Motorpasión.