Chongqing - Chongqing, the mountainous megacity famed for its gravity-defying monorail that glides through buildings — a viral sensation on TikTok — has once again captured global attention with another engineering project.
The escalator modernization project on Metro Line 2 has just won the Elevator World 2025 Project of the Year Award. A panel of over 30 global industry experts selected it through a rigorous, multi-dimensional evaluation process.
Widely regarded as the highest honor in the global elevator industry, this award has been presented 27 times. Past recipients include iconic projects like the Burj Khalifa Elevator Complex in Dubai and New York’s World Trade Center Transportation Hub, each recognized as a benchmark that sets new standards in elevator innovation worldwide.
The escalator modernization project of Chongqing Metro Line 2 recently won the prestigious Elevator World 2025 Project of the Year Award. (Photo/Chongqing Rail Transit (Group) Co., Ltd.)
In 2025, 217 projects from around the world competed across nine categories, with one winner selected in each category. The competition was intense, with a win rate of just 4.1%, and the Chongqing Metro Line 2 project emerged victorious in the escalator modernization category.
It was the only rail transit project among the nine winners, marking a significant achievement for China's urban rail transit technology on the international stage. This is the first time a Chinese urban rail project has won the Elevator World award, and Chongqing becomes the first city in western China to receive this honor.
The Line 2 renovation project spans 18 stations and 119 elevators, serving over 600,000 passengers daily. The Chongqing Rail Transit (Group) Co., Ltd. developed an innovative plan for the renovation, which allowed for efficient nighttime construction while ensuring that the equipment remained operational during the day, minimizing disruptions to passengers.
The Elevator World Award is the highest honor in the global elevator industry. (Photo/Chongqing Rail Transit (Group) Co., Ltd.)
The modernization process used cutting-edge 3D laser scanning and ultrasonic flaw detection technologies, replacing only the worn core components of the elevators without damaging the original frames.
The new approach cut elevator downtime to under six hours, mostly completed overnight, minimizing passenger disruption. It also slashed steel use compared to traditional methods, saving an estimated 12 million yuan (around 1.68 million USD).
The upgraded elevators are now connected to an Internet of Things (IoT) platform, enabling real-time monitoring of their operational status and component life. This improves the equipment's reliability and stability.
The new elevators also feature barrier-free facilities and utilize various energy-saving green technologies. The energy generated during operation is recycled into clean electricity, enhancing the passenger experience while promoting energy conservation.
The successful modernization of Chongqing Metro Line 2 has already been applied to Egypt's Tenth of Ramadan City Railway, a key project of the Belt and Road Initiative. This marks the first time China's elevator engineering construction technology has entered the African market.