Beijing's Summer Palace installs 8,000 meters of anti-slip strips on stone steps

8,000 meters of anti-slip strips installed on 9 sets of stone steps at the Summer Palace

 

　　“The feeling on the anti-slip strips is really great. It rained heavily last night, but today when I came back to the Summer Palace and walked up the steps, I dared to wear sandals — no problem at all...” With the rainy season arriving along with the summer vacation, the renovated main scenic area of the Summer Palace now features two barrier-free circular walking routes totaling 10 kilometers, with 8,000 meters of anti-slip strips laid on the stone steps.

　　This morning, reporters visited the Tower of Buddhist Incense at the Summer Palace and saw that gray anti-slip strips had been installed on the stone steps. When touched by hand, the strips felt like fine sandpaper, providing substantial friction underfoot.

　　Visitor Mr. Lin Zhong said, “In the past, I didn’t dare come to the Tower of Buddhist Incense in winter for fear of slipping on ice and snow; in summer, I wouldn’t wear sandals to enjoy the view because the steps were too slippery. Now with the anti-slip strips, it’s not slippery at all — much more comfortable.” As the summer vacation begins, increased thunderstorms in Beijing have made the stone steps even slipperier. The Summer Palace has installed 8,000 meters of anti-slip strips on stone steps at nine locations, including the Tower of Buddhist Incense, the Three-Arch Bridge at the North Palace Gate, and the Hall of Longevity and Health.

　　Bai Shoutong, director of the management office at the Summer Palace, explained: “These anti-slip strips are highly effective at preventing slips while causing no harm to the stone steps, meeting the requirements for protecting ancient architecture.”

　　“These irregular grooves feel quite grippy underfoot,” several visitors remarked while hiking at Fragrant Hills Park. Upon closer inspection, the stone steps were found to be newly carved with textured grooves. According to staff, the park used a “chopping” technique to carve irregular patterns into the stone steps, achieving an anti-slip effect.

　　Jingshan Hill Path Equipped with Covered Walkways

　　At Jingshan Park, elderly locals exercising along the main path on the western side slowly make their way up the hill, holding onto the covered walkways along the roadside. At the mountaintop, covered walkways have also been installed around the Wan Chun Ting (Ten Thousand Spring Pavilion). Staff explained that to prevent slips during rainy or snowy weather, covered walkways have been set up along all major uphill routes as well as the mountain waist paths at the back.

　　Beihai Stone Steps Wrapped in Wood

　　On the northern side of Beihai Park, the 72 stone steps leading from the Puan Hall up to the mountaintop, adjacent to the White Dagoba, have all been wrapped in wood. Staff noted that these 72 steps are precious cultural relics from the Qing Dynasty. The wooden wrapping not only protects the relics but also serves as an anti-slip measure.