Convenience stores are perhaps one of the greatest modern services we humans get to enjoy. They're scattered just about everywhere we go, which means we'll never have to worry about not having various on-the-go essentials or quick snacks.
But of course, they're not literally everywhere. It's simply not possible without potentially causing a massive disruption to the environment. Plus, not all convenience stores are exactly 'convenient'.
The most inconvenient convenience store.
IMAGE: CCTV News
At the Shiniuzhai National Geological Park in China's Hunan Province, there sits (or rather, hangs) a tiny convenience store by the side of a 100-meter cliff, commonly frequented by avid climbers.
As you can imagine, getting there isn't exactly the easiest of tasks, but it's not supposed to be a 'final' destination anyway; merely a pitstop of sorts. Once you reach the convenience store – which is essentially a tiny wooden box staffed by one employee – you're basically spoiled for choice when it comes to refreshments: Consisting of bottled water and snacks, including potato chips.
And naturally, it's been dubbed the world's 'most inconvenient' convenience store, for obvious reasons. Though, if I were a climber making my way up that cliff, I'd think it's anything but inconvenient!
Photos and video footage of the convenience store have made their rounds on Chinese social media platform Weibo. Let's just say the visuals speak for themselves:
IMAGE: CCTV News / Weibo
Honestly, not bad. IMAGE: CCTV News / Weibo
Keep the change, just don't drop it. IMAGE: CCTV News / Weibo
IMAGE: CCTV News / Weibo
Despite being elevated and requiring tough labor, the convenience store's prices are very grounded (hehe), with bottled water capped at US$0.30 (2 Yuan).
"The store doesn't make much money, but the tourists are very grateful for it, so we all feel like our jobs are very meaningful," an employee told Chinese state media outlet CCTV News.
You'll only find one worker manning the store at any given time. Stock is replenished daily before dawn, and well before climbers arrive.
"Every new employee is quite scared of doing this at first, but you get used to it very quickly," said one worker. "The only issue is having to use the toilet. It's exhausting to have to climb back down and up again to use the toilet, so we try not to drink too much water."
The convenience store opened back in 2018, but has remained closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Let's hope the situation there gets better, and maybe you'll be able to pay the shop a little visit.
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