Ear-Popping Plunge into the Depths of Chongqing
Chongqing, China - The Hongyancun subway station in Chongqing, China, sits at a staggering depth of 116 meters (380 feet), a feat that has earned it the title of the world's deepest subway station. This record-breaking depth comes with a unique side effect - ear-popping, a common occurrence for passengers using the elevators to reach the station.
The Science Behind Ear-Popping
As explained by Oddity Central, ear-popping occurs when the air pressure outside the eardrum differs significantly from the pressure inside. This typically happens during ascents or descents, like those experienced in airplanes or during mountain driving. While most subway stations are not deep enough to cause this phenomenon, Hongyancun's extraordinary depth creates a significant pressure differential, akin to the experience of descending a 40-story building.
The Birth of a Deep-Sea Station
Located on Chongqing's metro lines 5 and 9, the Hongyancun station is situated between Jingwei Avenue and Shabin Road in the city's Duzhong district. Chongqing, a city known for its dramatic mountainous terrain, boasts winding roads and towering slopes woven into the urban landscape. This unique topography necessitated the creation of China's, and the world's, deepest subway station.
Hongyan Village and a Challenging Excavation
The Hongyan village, positioned on the south bank of the Jialiang River near the Huolong Bridge, lies on the summit of a hill. This geographic positioning required extensive excavation to connect the new station to the city's existing metro lines. Construction, which took 400 days, was completed in 2022.
A Tourist Attraction and a Unique Experience
The station's immense depth has turned it into a tourist attraction in Chongqing. Visitors flock to experience the descent to the station's depths via 8 massive escalators or the modern elevators, inevitably experiencing the ear-popping sensation caused by the pressure difference. The journey down by elevator takes 53 seconds, while the escalator ride lasts over 10 minutes.
A Legacy of Depth
Before Hongyancun's inauguration, the title of the deepest subway station belonged to the Arsenalna station on the Kiev Metro in Ukraine. Now, Chongqing's remarkable station reigns supreme, offering a unique and unforgettable travel experience.
Summary
The Hongyancun subway station in Chongqing, China, holds the title of the world's deepest subway station, reaching a depth of 116 meters. The station's extraordinary depth causes ear-popping for passengers using the elevators, a phenomenon typically associated with significant changes in altitude. The station, constructed in a mountainous region of Chongqing, serves as a testament to the city's unique topography and the engineering challenges it presents. The station has become a tourist attraction, drawing visitors to experience the unusual descent and the sensation of pressure change. The Hongyancun station stands as a testament to human ingenuity and the unique challenges presented by diverse geographical landscapes.