The Unique Café In China Where You Can Enjoy Your Coffee On A Cliff

Where's the best place to have a cup of coffee in China? How about on a bench suspended in the middle of a 200-meter (656-foot) tall cliff in the jungle? The coffee itself might be forgettable, but the awe-inspiring mountain and river views more than make up for it — that is, if thrill-seeking, adrenaline-pumping activities are your thing. Anyone with a remote fear of heights is going to want to steer clear of the one-of-a-kind Cliff Café in Guizhou, China. Not for the faint of heart, this café is more about the unique experience than the coffee, which is really just a cup of iced instant coffee prepared for you by your tour guide.

To begin the adventure, a guide leads you on a mile-long trek through the dense jungle in Libo County, a scenic area known for its unique landforms and stunning waterfalls. After reaching the top of the cliff and donning your climbing gear, including a helmet and safety harness, you lower yourself down a 20-meter (66-foot) long pulley system, ultimately reaching a wooden bench attached to the cliff. This is where you'll sit and sip your coffee, dangling your legs over the edge while admiring nature's glory and pondering the meaning of life.

If you're daring enough to try it, it'll cost you about $55 (398 yuan) to experience the Cliff Café — much more than a cup of coffee at normal heights but relatively inexpensive for a rock climbing tour that includes insurance, equipment rental, and guide assistance. First opened in 2019 and reopened in June 2023 after undergoing renovations, the Cliff Café is the only cliffside café in China and has become a popular tourist destination and selfie spot for social media buffs. If an hour on a cliffside isn't enough adventure, there are other opportunities nearby for visitors, such as cave camping and a giant rope swing in the forest.

Adventurers who enjoy sipping coffee on a cliff might also be interested in elevating their dining experience at the Fangweng Restaurant, which is further away in China's Hubei Province. While diners won't have to don climbing gear to access it, the restaurant is built into a cliff several hundred feet above the ground and offers breathtaking views of the Yangtze River flowing through the Xingling Gorge. If that's not thrilling enough, there is also a bungee platform for risk-takers to partake in.