Archive · 14 Nov 2025
Chinese Automaker's Range Rover Stunt Re-creation Fails, Damages Historic Stairs
A car company in China tried to make its new SUV drive up a very famous, steep, and narrow staircase on a mountain, just like a famous car did a few years ago.
But this time, the car slipped and crashed into a fence, breaking it.
The company said a part of a safety rope broke, which caused the car to slide.
They felt very sorry and promised to fix the broken fence and stairs.
Nobody got hurt, but people watching were scared.
The stairs were closed for a little while because of the accident.
Chinese automaker Chery's new SUV, the Fengyun X3L, attempted to climb the 999 steps of Tianmen Mountain's 'Heaven's Staircase'.
The SUV failed during the climb, slipping backward and damaging a guardrail.
Chery Automobile issued a public apology, citing a detached safety rope anchor as the cause of the accident.
The company acknowledged insufficient risk assessment and planning for the stunt at the public tourist site.
Chery has pledged to fully restore the damaged site and provide compensation.
- Who
- Chery Automobile
- What
- An attempt to recreate a viral Range Rover stunt of climbing 'Heaven's Staircase' failed, resulting in the SUV crashing and damaging a historic staircase.
- When
- Wednesday, November 13, 2025
- Where
- Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park, China
- Why
- Chery was attempting to replicate a previous successful stunt with a new SUV, but an equipment failure and inadequate risk assessment led to the accident.
Chery Automobile's Explanation
Witness Account
Cause of the SUV's slide
Chery Automobile's Explanation
Chery stated that a metal shackle on the safety rope's anchor point detached, causing the rope to wrap around the vehicle's rear wheel and obstruct power.
Witness Account
Footage shows the SUV struggling midway up, slipping backward, and crashing into a guardrail.
Impact on the site
Chery Automobile's Explanation
Chery acknowledged damage to the staircase and has apologized, promising full restoration and compensation.
Witness Account
The SUV crashed into a guardrail, breaking part of it, and remained on the stairs for two hours, reportedly causing tourists to scream.
- Automaker
- Chery Automobile
- Vehicle
- Fengyun X3L SUV
- Location
- Tianmen Mountain National Forest Park, China
- Staircase
- Heaven's Staircase (Sky Ladder), 999 steps
- Date of Incident
- Wednesday (November 13, 2025, per tweet timestamp)
- Chery's Action
- Public apology, promise to pay for repairs and compensate.