
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





Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Japan’s budget chain restaurant Saizeriya might just be the perfect first date location
7-Eleven Japan’s giant fried chicken skewer would be too big to eat, so it’s really for cuddling
Häagen-Dazs Japan releases new ASMR ice cream called “Rocky Crunchy!”
Studio Ghibli releases trilingual warning criticizing sales of illegally copied artwork
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Japan’s budget chain restaurant Saizeriya might just be the perfect first date location
7-Eleven Japan’s giant fried chicken skewer would be too big to eat, so it’s really for cuddling
Häagen-Dazs Japan releases new ASMR ice cream called “Rocky Crunchy!”
Studio Ghibli releases trilingual warning criticizing sales of illegally copied artwork
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Japanese convenience store sandwiches get extra protection from new business backpack
Starbucks Japan’s rarest Frappuccino can only be purchased at 15 stores around the country
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Starbucks Japan opens new cafe and art gallery in top Tokyo tourist neighbourhood
Komachi Shokudo: Japanese mum’s-style cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Tokyo
Pizza Hut Japan teams up with creator of one of the country’s best kinds of ramen for ramen pizza
The top 10 graduation songs in Japan as chosen by current Japanese high school students
Is Japan’s Crab-shaped Cup Ramen Timer worth the hype?
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
The 10 most annoying things foreign tourists do on Japanese trains, according to locals
Naruto and Converse team up for new line of shinobi sneakers[Photos]
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever Hinamatsuri Girls’ Day Frappuccino
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2026
Now is the time to visit one of Tokyo’s best off-the-beaten-path plum blossom gardens
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
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
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
The next time you’re feeling stressed out, you could relax on a Pokémon Psyduck chair from Japan
Japanese convenience store sandwiches get extra protection from new business backpack
Starbucks Japan’s rarest Frappuccino can only be purchased at 15 stores around the country
Studio Ghibli adds new Mother’s Day gift sets to its anime collection in Japan
Virtual idol Hatsune Miku redesigned with look that adds new elements and brings back old ones
We asked our Japanese team of writers how they deal with seasonal allergies in Japan
Starbucks Japan opens new Kyoto store in Place of Scenic Beauty
Psyduck teapot produced by Japanese craftspeople is here to serve up a headache-soothing cuppa
We bought a sausage egg roll maker because of social media, but was it worth it?
Five Okinawan foods that have changed our reporter’s view on local cuisine forever
Say hello to Japan’s new generation of adults, fresh from Kitakyushu’s 2023 seijinshiki ceremony
Genuine Muramasa blade and Muromachi katana on display at Tokyo’s Touken Ranbu store【Photos】
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character