A cantilevered viewpoint with a glass floor is the centerpiece of the Nujiang River 72 Turns Canyon Scenic Area, a project by Chinese studio Archermit that has reimagined a treacherous landscape in Tibet as an engaging visitor destination.

This viewpoint is located along a notorious section of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, also known as G318, which has earned the nickname “The Devil’s Road” because of its perilous hairpin bends that wind high above the Nujiang Grand Canyon and river below.

Commissioned by the local government, Archermit was challenged to turn this stretch into a scenic tourist route. The studio responded by creating what it describes as “a playground to pursue thrills and challenges,” featuring not only the dramatic viewpoint but also additional lookouts, walkways, bridges, and zip lines.

“Whether through prostration pilgrimage, trekking, cycling, or driving, self-challenge is at the heart of what draws many enthusiasts to Tibet,” Archermit explained.

“The design invites G318 travellers to step out of their vehicles and experience the dramatic landscape of the Nujiang River firsthand, offering them a memorable journey defined by personal endurance,” the studio added.

The visitor experience spans both sides of the canyon, beginning on the northern bank where a car park is situated adjacent to a visitor centre. This centre houses a café, a shop, and a small exhibition space showcasing the area’s history.

From the visitor centre, the main attraction unfolds—a cantilevered viewpoint that extends out over the river, looping back to the cliff edge in a form that echoes the iconic hairpin curves of the highway below.

The viewpoint is constructed from a steel framework clad in weathered steel panels. Its floor, made of reinforced glass, lets visitors peer directly down to the river 130 metres below.

“The surface is paved with high-transparency safety glass, forming a true ‘heavenly road’ suspended in the air. This transforms the adrenaline-inducing drive of the Nujiang River 72 Turns into a breathtaking high-altitude walking adventure,” Archermit said.

From the main viewpoint, a sequence of stepped walkways bordered by low weathered steel walls follows the mountain’s edge, leading to two smaller viewing platforms—one shaped like a space capsule, the other inspired by a leaf.