The Hongyancun subway station in Chongqing, China, is located at a depth of 116 meters, and the significant air pressure difference often causes travelers to experience ear popping when taking the elevator down to this station.
According to Oddity Central, when the air pressure outside the eardrum is much different from the pressure inside, people may experience ear popping. This condition commonly occurs during ascents and descents, such as when an airplane takes off or lands, or when driving up or down a mountain. Most subway stations do not typically cause ear popping due to pressure because they are not deep or steep enough for the ear to notice a significant air pressure difference. However, the use of an elevator to reach the world’s deepest subway station can indeed result in ear popping for travelers. This station is located 116 meters below ground, equivalent to about a 40-story building.
Elevator leading down to Hongyancun subway station. (Photo: O.C)
Hongyancun Station is located on Chongqing Metro Lines 5 and 9, between Jingwei Avenue and Shabin Road, in the Yuzhong District of Chongqing. This major city in China is renowned for its stunning mountainous landscapes, featuring winding roads and steep slopes interspersed with houses and buildings. This unique topography prompted officials to commence construction on the deepest subway line in China and the world.
Hongyan Village is situated on the south bank of the Jialing River, near the Hualong Bridge, on the outskirts of Chongqing. The village is perched atop a hill, necessitating workers to dig deep to connect the new station with the city’s subway lines.
Reports indicate that pedestrians take about 38 minutes to climb from the station to the surface, and it is said to feel like climbing a mountain every day. The station was completed in 2022 after 400 days of hard construction work.
Due to its significant depth, Hongyancun Station quickly became a tourist attraction in Chongqing. Many videos share travelers visiting the city just for the chance to experience descending to the end of Hongyancun Station via eight large escalators or a modern elevator. Travelers using the elevator often experience ear popping due to the large pressure difference.
Interestingly, it takes 53 seconds to reach the bottom of Hongyancun Station by elevator, and over 10 minutes if using the escalator.
Before the inauguration of Hongyancun Station, the title of the deepest subway station in the world belonged to Arsenalna Station of the Kyiv Metro (Ukraine).
