Bali’s great glass elevator hits a stop

Bali authorities have suspended the construction of a 182m-tall cliffside glass elevator at Kelingking Beach – one of the island’s most photographed landmarks after uncovering multiple violations and raising alarms about the project’s impact on nature and culture.
Kelingking Beach, on the rugged coast of Nusa Penida, is famed for its panoramic aerial views of a T-rex-shaped rock formation. The suggested lift was intended to improve access to the beach below, where visitors currently face a 45- to 60-minute descent and a two-hour climb back up.
Developed by China Kaishi Group, the project broke ground in July 2023. The structure included a ticketing area, a flyover linking to the lift, a glass elevator shaft, and a restaurant built into the cliffside.
However, local authorities have since found that the designer proceeded without securing the required permits, and have instructed all non-compliant structures to be dismantled within six months and to restore the affected area within three months.