Visitors to Shanghai Tower will be propelled upwards at over 40mph

China looks set to break another record after the developer of the country’s tallest building placed an order for the world’s fastest elevators.

After construction is complete in 2014, visitors to Shanghai Tower will be propelled upwards at speeds of up to 40mph (18 metres per second) up the 632m tall skyscraper.

The current world record for elevator speed stands at 38mph (16.8 metres per second), according to the Guinness World Records.

Mitso Muneykuki, executive vice president of Mistubishi Electric – which will supply the elevators – said it was a “great honour” to provide the record-breaking lifts.