On April 1st in Guangzhou, Guangdong, a woman surnamed Zhang encountered an unusual architectural feature while shopping at a local mall: a fully transparent staircase.

The glass staircase connects the 4th and 5th floors of the mall and is made entirely of see-through glass, allowing a clear view all the way down to the ground floor.

Zhang explained, “There’s an escalator going up, but if you want to go down from the 5th floor, you have to take this transparent staircase. Both my friend and I are afraid of heights—my friend had to close her eyes and be guided down.”

Other visitors expressed concerns as well. Some noted that the see-through design puts skirt-wearers in awkward situations. “It’s like a wardrobe malfunction trap,” one customer said. “If you’re not paying attention, your privacy is completely exposed.”

According to mall staff, the staircase was designed to create a sense of openness and modern aesthetics, aiming to offer shoppers a unique experience. However, they acknowledged the concerns and said they would consider modifications to better accommodate the needs of all customers in the future.