Kelingking Beach, Bali: Outrage over huge cliff lift project marring one of the world’s most beautiful beaches
The rugged coastline, famed for its turquoise water and dramatic cliffs, draws millions for its untouched beauty. However, now a towering 180 metre glass lift links the cliff tops to the sand below has sparking a wave of fury.
Kelingking Beach in Bali, renowned for its ‘T-Rex-shaped’ rock formation, has become the centre of a heated backlash after a half-completed steel structure appeared on its cliffs, with locals and travellers condemning it as an eyesore.
Reaching the beach currently requires an hour-long trek down a steep, rough track, and swimming is banned thanks to years of deadly accidents in the powerful surf.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The gruelling climb back up can take as long as two hours, yet it hasn’t stopped the location from becoming one of the island’s most photographed attractions.
Chinese developer China Kaishi Group is behind the $11 million project, which includes a 182 metre lift and a 64 metre bridge, rising out of the cliffside.
Work began in 2023 on what is slated to feature two external sightseeing elevators, a sky cafe, a restaurant and a sprawling 400-square metre viewing deck perched above the beach, The Sun reported.
In a small victory for critics, authorities halted construction last week to assess whether the project’s permits were valid.
Now, its future remains uncertain.
Kelingking Beach sits on Nusa Penida, just off the coast from Denpasar, and was named one of the world’s 50 most beautiful beaches in 2024.
Online, the outrage has escalated, with one past visitor recalling the “brutal” descent featuring shaky timber railings and worn rope guides.
“Could they improve the walking path? Sure,” they wrote.
“(But) I’m on the side of the locals, though, no elevator should be installed here.”
Another commenter said: “Tourism doesn’t always mean building giant structures. Sometimes the views and untouched scenery are what people come for.”
“This is an incredibly stupid idea, and whoever supposedly thought it was ‘the perfect addition’ needs to be run out of that country,” another said.
“I would be pissed if I ever got to visit Bali and that hideous thing was there.”
Bali senator Niluh Djelantik, one of the project’s most outspoken opponents, echoed those concerns.
“Long before this lift was built, we had already voiced our opposition. The risks are too great,” she said.
“Enjoy Bali’s beauty wisely; don’t create access that seems to be leading tourists to the gates of disaster,” she wrote on Facebook.
The developer, for its part, argued the structure would increase visitor capacity and offer a safer way to admire the beach.
“Enjoy Bali’s beauty wisely; don’t create access that seems to be leading tourists to the gates of disaster,” she wrote on Facebook.
The developer, for its part, argued the structure would increase visitor capacity and offer a safer way to admire the beach.
“Due to the steep cliffs surrounding it, with a vertical drop of nearly 200 meters, reaching the beach requires a nearly two-hour climb down the cliffs, posing a certain degree of danger,” the company said when construction first began.
