
Those knees must hurt after bounding down 999 steps in two minutes.
Tianmen Mountain in China is famous for its water-eroded cave, with an impressive flight of 999 stairs leading up to it. Scaling the stairs is a feat itself, taking 30 minutes to climb the entire thing.
A massive parkour course covering the entirety of the stairs was built just recently for a competition, and 19-year-old parkour practitioner and instructor Calen Chan took a breathtaking POV film of himself vaulting down all its obstacles in just over two minutes.
▼ Watch the dizzying parkour video here.
▼ Calen starts off at the top with a GoPro camera in his mouth.
▼ This slide looks incredibly fun.
▼ The obstacles include people.
▼ “All right, where’s the escalator!?”
Japanese netizens had some things to say about this, most concerning the safety of everyone involved — willingly or otherwise:
“The tourists are in danger!”
“It’s like real-life Mirror’s Edge.”
“Oh god, I got sick after watching for just five seconds….”
“Enh, no big deal. I can do that too.”
“That’s not parkour, it’s just walking down stairs in style.”
While this may seem tame compared to Mario and Luigi parkour or amazing somersaults and ninja flips from highschool girls, keep in mind that it’s a very long climb down. Just look at that unforgiving steep incline!
Any miscalculated jump or flip on tired knees will have the runner crashing badly, crippling or even ending his or her life. Props to Calen for making it down in one piece!
Source: YouTube/Calen Chan via Kotaro
Images: YouTube/Calen Chan





Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
Starbucks Japan releases exclusive new Bearista collection…with beary cute details
Family Mart’s new Tokyo flagship convenience store doesn’t feel convenient, but is that a problem?
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
Starbucks Japan releases exclusive new Bearista collection…with beary cute details
Family Mart’s new Tokyo flagship convenience store doesn’t feel convenient, but is that a problem?
Starbucks Japan releases new Discovery Series collection celebrating local regions and traditions
Defacing the Japanese flag is now a crime, says government, punishable by up to two years in jail
Japan’s ultracompact kei car taxis are now ready for travelers to ride, if you know where to find them
Gundam’s Char Aznable normal suit becomes roomwear for doing normal stuff in the real world [Pics]
Teen girl in Japan refuses to be victim, personally escorts train pervert to police for arrest
Cup Noodle unveils first-ever cold-water instant ramen in Japan
Japanese government ID card and app to be required for certain Pokémon card purchases next month
Uniqlo looks back to the very start of Pokémon with new black-and-white pixel art T-shirts[Pics]
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Is Japan’s tourism boom slowing down? Foreign visitor numbers fall for first time in five years
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Japan triples departure tax, foreign tourists and locals now must pay more to leave country
Japan launches first overnight Shinkansen bullet train between Tokyo and Osaka this summer
Studio Ghibli store Donguri Republic announces opening of first-ever store in America
Japanese sweets shop sells an ohagi so exquisite it sells out by noon
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Starbucks Japan releases new Discovery Series collection celebrating local regions and traditions
Defacing the Japanese flag is now a crime, says government, punishable by up to two years in jail
Japan’s ultracompact kei car taxis are now ready for travelers to ride, if you know where to find them
Gundam’s Char Aznable normal suit becomes roomwear for doing normal stuff in the real world [Pics]
Teen girl in Japan refuses to be victim, personally escorts train pervert to police for arrest
Evangelion beautifully reimagined as iconic classical Japanese folding screen art series [Photos]
Is Japan’s tourism boom slowing down? Foreign visitor numbers fall for first time in five years
Cup Noodle unveils first-ever cold-water instant ramen in Japan
Tokyo’s viral 90-yen cafe pop-up returns to Harajuku with yogurt coffee
A donut and sugar-loving bear in Japan is breaking into homes, checking fridges for sweet snacks
Mass murder plot stopped by friend of Akihabara mass murderer
Starbucks Japan adds new Frappuccino, Tea, and Chillax Soda to its limited-edition summer menu
Baskin-Robbins Japan’s semi-secret affogato is a perfect mix of fun and fancy [Taste test]
Studio Ghibli releases huge new wooden clip collection featuring 25 anime movies