Chinese man impresses many by building own lift to reach 5th-floor home, costing US$1,100

An elderly resident in northeastern China has earned the nickname “Iron Man of his residential complex” for creating a unique lift that he has used for the past five years.

However, after his ingenious invention gained attention online and captivated many internet users, local authorities in Huludao, Liaoning province, along with the residential committee, urged him to dismantle it, as reported by the Liaoshen Evening News.

The silver-haired innovator, known as Wang, constructed his lift – a design reminiscent of a cable car – in 2020 when he could no longer tolerate climbing up the stairs to reach his fifth-floor home.

Wang dedicated an entire year to the preparation of this project, conducting research online and purchasing materials, which amounted to a total cost of 8,000 yuan (US$1,100). He designed, welded, and assembled the entire system entirely by himself.

This compact lift is small enough to accommodate only a chair, with a cable connecting Wang’s window to a lamp post located on the street near his residential block.

In a noteworthy achievement, Wang applied for and successfully obtained a patent for his invention from the China National Intellectual Property Administration in October 2020.

“My lift operates in silent mode, allowing trucks to pass beneath it, and it doesn’t disrupt the daily lives of residents in the community,” Wang was quoted as saying.

He claimed he was unaware of any safety risks associated with his creation.

A neighbour, whose identity was not disclosed in the report, mentioned that she often saw Wang using tools to repair and maintain the lift. An official from the municipal market supervision bureau stated they had only discovered the existence of this unusual lift once it went viral on social media.

"After reviewing the Special Equipment Security Law, we determined that it does not qualify as special equipment," the official, who wished to remain unnamed, explained.

Together with members of the residential committee, this official spent several days persuading Wang to remove his lift in early June.

(An official from the municipal market supervision bureau mentioned they only became aware of this unique lift once it gained popularity on social media. Photo: Baidu)

The story sparked a lively debate among mainland internet users, amassing 5 million views on a popular social media platform.

"What a genius! I've dreamed about doing this but cannot execute it," one online commenter remarked.

"Can you believe a makeshift lift has been in use for five years? It looks so dangerous!" another user commented.

Another individual posed the question: "After dismantling it, what plans do they have to address the issue of elderly residents being unable to climb stairs?"

Ref: Chinese man impresses many by building own lift to reach 5th-floor home, costing US$1,100 (scmp.com)