Viral clip shows SUV rolling down Tianmen’s “Stairway to Heaven” during promo shoot

A video of a car rolling backwards down the 999 steps of Tianmen Mountain in China has quickly spread online. The SUV crashed into a safety railing at the bottom of the stairs.

On November 12, 2025, Chinese car manufacturer Chery – a major automaker in China – was shooting a commercial for its new Fengyun X3L SUV when the incident occurred.

Video from the scene shows a car slowly driving up the famous “Stairway to Heaven” before stalling and rolling backward. The car hit and damaged a guardrail, surprising people nearby.

The new video immediately reminded people of Range Rover’s famous 2018 Dragon Challenge, filmed in the same spot. Viewers quickly started comparing the two, with many joking that it was a copycat attempt with a different result.

Chinese SUV rolls down iconic “Stairway to Heaven”

Tianmen Mountain is a famous landmark in China, best known for its incredible 999 steps that climb to Heaven’s Gate, a natural rock arch. The steep and striking staircase is a favorite spot for filming commercials and other videos.

Honestly, the hill is really steep, and that means there’s almost no margin for mistakes. That’s a big reason why that video of Chery failing went viral – it was just so easy to see what went wrong!

A Chinese car manufacturer, Chery Automobile, recently attempted to replicate the famous Range Rover “Stairway to Heaven” challenge, but crashed through a safety barrier. The incident occurred at Tianmen Mountain in Zhangjiajie, China, and Chery has issued an apology, promising to cover the full cost of repairs.

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 13, 2025

Chery has acknowledged that the recent test revealed weaknesses in their risk assessment and attention to detail during planning and execution. They particularly regret choosing a public area for the test, recognizing it caused public concern, according to a report by Global Times.

Chery explained that the SUV rolled backwards down the stairs because the rope securing it during the climb came loose. This caused the rope to get tangled around the right wheel, stopping the engine and resulting in the vehicle rolling back.

Chery has announced it will pay for all repairs and is also looking into its safety procedures to prevent similar issues in the future.

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2025-11-14 16:18