A giant five-storey slide recently unveiled at a Shanghai shopping centre has elicited both fear and amusement from Chinese netizens. The huge ride is scheduled to open next month and will be free of charge for shoppers.

The giant five-storey slide was built inside the Printemps mall in the Pudong area of Shanghai City in east China. The multi-coloured ride is located directly in the centre of the Pujian Printemps Department Store.

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Chinese web users have expressed safety concerns since a Weibo user posted pictures of the structure last week.

While the main goal was to generate public interest in the mall, most online users have voiced concerns about safety, sabotage or possible smelly encounters. The Pudong New Area Market Supervision and Management Bureau told Shanghai Daily that the 20m slide had undergone testing and is safe. However, compulsory inspection is not required as it does not fall into any equipment category. More so, the department store operator is currently fixing some potential hazards.

However, this did not prevent thousand of comments on Weibo about the dragon-like slide. Most concerns were about the riders' bottoms, some voiced fears that there might be open seams which could cut a big wound once you pass by or a screw may accidentally come loose resulting in a small section falling apart.

Some are also not sure how the landing will come out. Many have voiced fears of being trapped inside the slide.

It will only take 16 seconds to get down the slide from the top to bottom. Both children and adults can ride, however every rider needs to be over three feet tall and, at least, three years of age. The mall advices that anyone who is afraid of heights or suffers from heart ailments not use it.

TagsShanghai, shopping centre, Printemps mall, Pudong, Pudong Shanghai, East China, Printemps Department Store, giant slide, Pudong New Area Market Supervision and Management Bureau, weibo, Giant Snake-Like Slide, Giant Slide in shopping mall