Dubai is offering thrill-seekers a new way to see its dazzling skyscrapers: On one of the world's longest zip lines.
Two people ride the world's longest urban zip line with a speed of up to 80 kilometers per hour on a one kilometer run from 170 meter to ground level, at the Marina district of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
The 170 meter-high (558 foot) XLine opens this week in Dubai's Marina neighborhood. For an entire kilometer (3,280 feet), those brave enough can whiz past some of Marina's tallest skyscrapers at a speed of 80 kilometers an hour (50 miles/hour).
A similar zip line opened two years ago near the world's tallest skyscraper in Dubai. The new zip line, however, is double the length and offers couples the chance to experience the thrill together with two zip lines running adjacent to one another.
Two people prepare to ride the world's longest urban zip line, with a speed of up to 80 kilometers per hour on a one kilometer run from 170 meter to ground level, in the Marina district of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
The zip line starts at the top of one of the Marina's towers and lands near the Marina Mall.
Tickets cost around $180 a person (650 dirhams).
As highland tourism gradually hits its peak season in the Mainland, Qinghai Lake has become an ideal summer escape among visitors for its cool climate and breathtaking natural beauty. A recent Hong Kong tour group visiting the lake expressed deep appreciation for Qinghai's landscapes, with several members saying they looked forward to taking in all the sights in the province and would gladly recommend the trip to friends.
The tourists at Qinghai Lake, Photo by Bastille Post
The beautiful scenery of Qinghai Lake, Photo by Bastille Post
The Hong Kong media delegation visited Qinghai Lake for ongoing interviews. With an altitude of about 3,196 meters above sea level, Qinghai Lake enjoys a reputation as the "Sapphire of the Plateau." As China's largest inland saltwater lake, it is renowned for its bird and fish populations and serves as a habitat for the critically endangered Przewalski's gazelle. It is also the only home to the nationally protected Qinghai Lake naked carp, known locally as Huang Fish.
Mr. Meng Dengkui, Photo by Bastille Post
Mr. Meng Dengkui, head of the Qinghai Lake Tourism Group Co., Ltd., said the lake receives around three million visitors annually, with popular activities including sightseeing at Erlangjian Scenic Spot, as well as cruises, sailboats, speedboats, ATVs, and motorcycle rides.
Erlangjian Scenic Spot, Photo by Bastille Post
The beautiful scenery of Qinghai Lake, Photo by Bastille Post
He added that Qinghai Lake's stunning inland scenery draws about 20,000 visitors from Hong Kong and Macau each year, along with some 50,000 international tourists. Last year, a group of Hong Kong students visited the lake twice for experiential learning programs. The lake has also hosted Dr. the Hon Leung Chun Ying, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, revealing the frequency of cross-regional exchanges.
The tourists at Qinghai Lake, Photo by Bastille Post
Photo by Bastille Post
The birds at Qinghai Lake, Photo by Bastille Post
The reporter on site met a Hong Kong tour group of about 20 people, mostly elderly travelers on a ten-day trip across Qinghai, with Qinghai Lake as their first stop.
Mrs. Lee, Photo by Bastille Post
Mrs. Lee, a member of the tour group, said that despite the altitude, she felt perfectly fine. Having never visited Qinghai before, she had long dreamed of seeing its landscapes. "I've read about it in books, and it looks so beautiful. I'm also planning to visit Chaka Salt Lake and Heidushan Mountain."
She laughed, adding that she didn't experience altitude sickness. Having previously traveled to Xizang, she found Qinghai Lake's elevation easy to handle. "Three or four thousand meters isn't too high," she said. She noted she would recommend the trip to friends afterward. "It's really beautiful here, perfect for hiking, very comfortable, and the air is great."
Ms. Tsui, Photo by Bastille Post
Ms. Tsui, the group's tour guide, said Qinghai is gradually entering its peak tourism season and has become a hot destination this year. Its comfortable climate and natural scenery are especially appealing to Hong Kong visitors. "It's very hot in Hong Kong right now, but here it's around ten degrees Celsius, like having natural air conditioning."
The beautiful scenery of Qinghai Lake, Photo by Bastille Post
The beautiful scenery of Qinghai Lake, Photo by Bastille Post
The tourists at Qinghai Lake, Photo by Bastille Post
She mentioned that her company alone has over a dozen tour groups scheduled to visit Qinghai for next month, including five or six groups of Hong Kong tourists in a single week. "We mainly promote the Heidushan Mountain and Chaka Salt Lake routes, because these kinds of landscapes are rare in other provinces."
Ms. Zheng from Hebei and her mother, Ms. Xu, Photo by Bastille Post
Meanwhile, Ms. Zheng from Hebei and her mother, Ms. Xu, intentionally chose a weekday visit to avoid peak crowds. It was their first time at Qinghai Lake. Ms. Zheng said she had only known the lake from maps or textbooks, and seeing it in person made her realize just how vast it is. "I've heard it takes about five hours to drive around it." Despite the altitude of over 3,000 meters, both felt it was manageable. Ms. Zheng joked, "My mother didn't feel a thing even when she ran, but the bread we brought with us was all puffed up."
The number statue marking the altitude of Qinghai Lake, Photo by Bastille Post
