Faster, higher and more impressive lifts

The first lift dedicated to transporting people was built by Elisha Otis in 1857 in New York. It was built on five floors and its speed was 12 metres per minute.

Today, 165 years later, the fastest lift in the world travels at 72 km/h, or 20 metres per second, and it is the Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre in China. The latter has 111 floors, reaches a height of 530 metres and is considered a rocket lift with a magnet motor. 

When it comes to the world’s tallest lifts with a height of 830 metres, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai takes first place and takes only 1 minute and 24 seconds to reach the top floor.

It took six years and $1.5 billion to build this skyscraper; it was inaugurated in 2010 and has achieved multiple firsts including being the world’s tallest building with 163 floors.

With 128 floors and a height of 632 metres, the Shanghai Tower takes second place. It is considered the tallest building in China and reaches a speed of 69 km/h.

Burj Khalifa
Taipei 101

In third place, the Taipei 101 made by Toshiba is considered one of the world’s tallest lifts with a height of 508 metres and taking about 30 seconds to reach the top.

When it comes to spectacular lifts, among the first ones not to be missed are the Bailong lift in China and the AquaDom in Berlin.

The former, also known as the Hundred Dragons Elevator, is located in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Hunan, China.

It is famous for being the world’s tallest outdoor lift, reaching 326 metres, made of glass and built on a cliff. The Bailong offers a breathtaking view of China’s famous natural park.

Last but not least, the second lift that stands out is located inside the AquaDom, Berlin‘s cylindrical aquarium. This glass-fronted lift allows visitors to take a closer look at the aquarium’s fauna, moving even into the deepest areas.