上海一商场现巨型滑梯 可从顶层滑到底层

Visitors to a shopping mall in Shanghai have been getting a first look at a giant five-story slide, which is due to open to the public next month.

Pictures of the chute have already gone viral, sparking excitement and fear in equal measures. The 54-meter (177-foot) curling slide winds from the fifth floor down to the ground floor of a shopping mall in China’s financial hub city of Shanghai.

The slide is part of a promotional campaign for the Pinault Printemps Redoute Shanghai shopping mall. Erica Liu, the general manager of marketing department of the mall, says sliding from the top takes about 16 seconds.

“The building is high, so we have to have curves to avoid making a sudden dive. So having curves would slow down the speed. I’ve slid before, it’s not dangerous at all, and it’s also very interesting,” Liu said.

“But for those people who are afraid of heights, they don’t like it; but for those who like the feeling of excitement, this slide is nothing for them. That’s what I think.”

Liu adds that, as a safety measure, only one person would be allowed on the slide at any time.

Riders must be older than three years old and taller than 1.1 meters (just over 3 and a half feet). Some customers are ready to give it a try.

“The idea is very good. Firstly, it’s quite attractive. When I first came in, I saw it with the shape of dragon; I think it has a good meaning. I think it will attract a lot of people,” a shopper said.

“I came here to have lunch with my friend, we both have kids. We will take our kids to have a try next time. I think it’s really good.”

Others say they would like to have seen a more open design to make it more exciting.

“I think it’s more reasonable that the slide is semi-transparent on the upper part, while it has steel tube on the lower part as you can have a full view of the shopping mall when you slide on it. It would increase the feeling of excitement when you can see objects moving when you slide and it will have more fun,” another shopper said.

“It would also reduce the fear of the people who have acrophobia when they look down during the slide if the slide has steel tube of the lower part.”

The giant slide is set to open to the public March 15, after it has undergone more safety checks. It will be free of charge to the mall’s customers.