China’s Chery Automobile has issued a public apology after one of its vehicles slid down a steep flight of steps during a failed demonstration at Tianmen Mountain, a landmark tourist site in Zhangjiajie, Hunan province, state-run tabloid Global Times reported today.
The Nov 12 incident (as shown in video on Global Times’ X account) occurred during a test on the so-called “Stairway to Heaven”, a dramatic staircase that climbs almost 300 metres with a vertical drop of about 150 metres and 999 steps leading to the famous Tianmen Cave.
Although Global Times did not identify the SUV involved in the incident, other media sources said it was the Chery Fengyun X3L, a new extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) that was launched in August.
The SUV is marketed as a range-extended electric vehicle, part of the Fulwin series by Chery.
The model features a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine combined with dual electric motors delivering up to 422hp and 505Nm torque with a 0–100kph acceleration time of about 4.7 seconds. It offers several battery pack options and multiple drive configurations including AWD and RWD.
Chinese automaker Chery Automobile apologized for an incident involving a test at Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area in Zhangjiajie, Central China’s Hunan Province, during which a vehicle slid down the steps and broke part of the guardrail while climbing the “Heavenly Stairs.” The… pic.twitter.com/cvwcwMdMb0
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) November 13, 2025
Video clips shared on Chinese social media showed the vehicle losing momentum, rolling backwards down the stone steps and striking a guardrail.
According to Chery’s statement on its official Weibo account, an initial investigation found that a fixing point for the safety rope on the test vehicle unexpectedly came loose.
The loose rope then wrapped itself around the right wheel, cutting engine power and leaving the driver unable to continue the climb. The car slid back and hit the barrier, damaging part of the rail, but there were no injuries.
Chery said it “sincerely” apologised for damage to the scenic site and pledged to pay for repairs and shoulder all compensation and follow-up responsibilities.
The company admitted the episode exposed shortcomings in its risk assessment and execution of the event, particularly the decision to stage a demanding vehicle test in a public tourist area.
Chery’s botched demo was attempting to recreate the same feat achieved by the Range Rover Sport PHEV at the same venue in 2018.
