Dragon Khan is a steel sit-down roller coaster at PortAventura Park in Salou, Tarragona, Spain, built by Swiss manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M) and opened on May 2, 1995. One of two coasters present on the park’s opening day, it immediately established PortAventura as a serious destination for thrill-seekers across Europe.
When it debuted, Dragon Khan set a world record with eight inversions on a single ride — a title it held for nearly seven years until the ten-inversion Colossus opened at Thorpe Park in 2002. It also briefly claimed the record for the world’s tallest vertical loop at 36 meters, giving the coaster an outsized place in roller coaster history for a ride of its era.
Quick Answer
Dragon Khan stands 45.1 meters (148 feet) tall, reaches a top speed of 104.6 km/h (65 mph), and features 8 inversions across its 1,269-meter (4,163-foot) layout at PortAventura Park in Salou, Spain. The ride lasts about 1 minute 45 seconds and has run since May 2, 1995.
Dragon Khan Height: How Tall Is It?
Dragon Khan’s lift hill climbs to 45.1 meters (148 feet), about as tall as a 14-story building. From that peak, the first drop plunges even further — a maximum drop of 49.1 meters (161 feet) — since the initial descent dips below the lift hill’s base level before the ride’s first vertical loop.
For riders wondering if they (or their kids) meet the height requirement: PortAventura sets a minimum height of 1.40 meters (about 4 feet 7 inches) to ride Dragon Khan, with a maximum height limit of 1.95 meters (6 feet 5 inches). These figures come directly from PortAventura’s official ride information and match the specs recorded by coaster-tracking databases and Wikipedia.
Dragon Khan Speed: How Fast Does It Go?
Dragon Khan’s top speed is 104.6 km/h (65 mph), reached on the first drop right after the lift hill. That speed carries the train through all eight inversions and the rest of the 1,269-meter (4,163-foot) track in roughly 1 minute 45 seconds — a brisk pace that rarely lets up until the final brake run.
For comparison, that’s fast enough to feel like a genuine high-speed coaster experience even three decades after opening, and it’s part of why Dragon Khan still ranks among Europe’s most respected B&M creations rather than feeling dated.
How Many Loops (Inversions) Does Dragon Khan Have?
Dragon Khan has 8 inversions, encountered in this order after the lift hill: two vertical loops, a diving loop, a heartline zero-G roll, a cobra roll (which itself contains two inversions), and two interlocking corkscrews to close out the ride.
Eight inversions on one ride was a world record when Dragon Khan opened in 1995 — the first coaster ever to hit that number — and the record stood until 2002. Riders sometimes describe the elements loosely as “loops,” but technically only two of the eight inversions are true vertical loops; the rest are diving, roll, cobra, and corkscrew elements that also invert the train.
The Ride Experience
Dragon Khan’s layout wastes no time — after climbing the 148-foot lift hill, riders plunge into a rapid succession of eight distinct inversion elements with barely a moment to catch their breath between them.
Three trains, each seating 28 riders four across in a single row, keep throughput high. The wide, open seating arrangement — a hallmark of B&M’s sit-down design — gives every rider unobstructed views of the Spanish sky and the China-themed area of the park that surrounds the coaster.
Records and Legacy
At its 1995 opening, Dragon Khan was the most inverted roller coaster on the planet. That record stood until Colossus at Thorpe Park, England, debuted with ten inversions in March 2002.
During that same debut season, Dragon Khan also held the record for the tallest vertical loop in the world — a 36-meter loop that was surpassed a year later by Mantis at Cedar Point. Despite losing its records, Dragon Khan has remained one of the most celebrated B&M coasters in Europe, consistently ranking among the top coasters on the continent. Its combination of sustained speed, aggressive inversion count, and smooth B&M transitions continues to draw riders decades after its opening.
Where to Find Dragon Khan
Dragon Khan is located in the China-themed area of PortAventura Park in Salou, Tarragona, on Spain’s Costa Dorada, roughly an hour’s drive south of Barcelona. For current opening hours, ticket options, and any ride updates, check PortAventura’s official Dragon Khan ride page.
Dragon Khan height and speed FAQs
How tall is Dragon Khan?
Dragon Khan’s lift hill is 45.1 meters (148 feet) tall, with a maximum drop of 49.1 meters (161 feet).
How fast does Dragon Khan go?
Dragon Khan reaches a top speed of 104.6 km/h (65 mph) on its first drop, which it carries through all eight inversions.
How many loops does Dragon Khan have?
Dragon Khan has 8 inversions total: two vertical loops, a diving loop, a heartline zero-G roll, a cobra roll, and two corkscrews. This was a world record when the ride opened in 1995.
What is the minimum height to ride Dragon Khan?
The minimum height to ride Dragon Khan is 1.40 meters (about 4 feet 7 inches), with a maximum height limit of 1.95 meters (6 feet 5 inches), per PortAventura’s official ride requirements.
Who built Dragon Khan?
Dragon Khan was designed and built by Swiss coaster manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard (B&M), with track layout work by designer Werner Stengel. It opened at PortAventura Park on May 2, 1995.
Is Dragon Khan still operating?
Yes, Dragon Khan is still operating at PortAventura Park in Salou, Spain, more than 30 years after its 1995 debut.
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