French daredevil climbs China’s massive elevator … 564 feet without a net

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May 20, 2013

Jean-Michel Casanova, known for his high-flying stunts, scales the Bailong Elevator. Also known as the 'Hundred Dragons' elevator, the attraction is set in a mountain range near Zhangjiajie in China's Hunan Province.

May 20, 2013

Jean-Michel Casanova, known for his high-flying stunts, scales the Bailong Elevator. Also known as the 'Hundred Dragons' elevator, the attraction is set in a mountain range near Zhangjiajie in China's Hunan Province.

A climber since age 5, Casanova has made his career scaling large objects such as the Eiffel Tower and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Going up?

French daredevil Jean-Michel Casanova scaled 564 feet as he ascended the daunting Bailong Elevator in China with no help from any machinery, safety net or safety equipment, save a pair of sticky green-and-black sneakers.

Casanova's green-and-black sticky sneakers were the only help he needed in his dizzying feat.

Officials reported that Casanova climbed the huge steel tower in 68 minutes and 26 seconds, while spectators looked on in awe.

It took 68 minutes and 26 seconds for French rock climber Jean-Michel Casanova to climb the Bailong elevator 564 feet high.

The Bailong Elevator, also known as the "Hundred Dragons" elevator, opened 10 years ago, situated in a mountain range near Zhangjiajie in China's Hunan Province. A tourist attraction in its own right, the dragon ladder was recorded as the world's highest elevator in the Guinness book of world records. The elevator is composed of shafts inside the mountain and a steel structure outside of the mountain.

Casanova climbs without help from any machinery, safety net or safety equipment.

For those not skilled enough to attempt the climb, a conventional elevator speeds visitor from the bottom to the top (or vice versa) in about a minute.

Casanova is obviously not intimidated by vertigo: A rock climber since the age of 5, he pioneered techniques in that extreme sport.

His spectacular solo ascent of the 900-foot Eiffel Tower in 1989, also sans safety equipment, was a media event. A year later, dressed as a nouveau Spider-Man, he climbed the Brooklyn Bridge.

Casanova has not been shy about endorsements along the way: his sponsors have included Oakley, Suzuki, Petzl, Nikon and Nike.


Courtesy: NYDN