The Baiyun Cable Car (白云索道) is a 1.6km MDG system located in the bustling southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou. This recreational line connects to Baiyun (White Cloud) Mountain, a large park and popular sightseeing spot 15km north of the CBD.
Construction on the system began in 1984 and it opened to the public in 1986. Their website says this cable car is China’s first domestically designed detachable sightseeing ropeway.
Urban planning enthusiasts will note this is one of the world’s few systems operating beneath an expressway!
Instead of tearing down this important piece of recreational infrastructure, the S81 highway was simply built over the ropeway. It’s yet another example of the adaptability of cable car technology in ever-changing urban environments.
Hiking up the mountain takes the average walker over an hour — too strenuous for many. Fortunately the cable car offers visitors a comfortable, inexpensive and quick ride. In just 5-10 minutes, they have access to peak views, trails and park amenities.
The Baiyun cable car gained such popularity over time that its operators had Doppelmayr completely upgrade the system in 2004. Today, the park is one of the top tourist destinations in Guangzhou and is visited by over 20 million people annually. The cable car is estimated to carry around a million passengers each year.
System Statistics
| Length (km) | 1.6 |
| Stations | 2 |
| Year Opened | 1986 (upgraded 2004) |
| Capacity | 1,400 |
| Ridership (yearly) | ~1,000,000 |
| Trip Time | 5-10 minutes |
| Maximum Speed (m/s) | 5 |
Image credits: CC BY-SA 4.0, by StephenLauQT