The world’s tallest bridge has recently opened to the public, significantly reducing the crossing time from two hours to just two minutes. Located in Guizhou province, China, the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge stands as a colossal structure, towering twice as high as the Eiffel Tower and nine times taller than the Golden Gate Bridge in the US.
Spanning a massive canyon, this record-breaking bridge almost matches the height of China’s tallest building, the 632-meter Shanghai Tower with 128 stories. Constructed using cutting-edge technologies like satellite navigation and drones, the bridge features “smart cables” equipped with fiber-optic sensors for continuous monitoring of stress, temperature, and humidity, ensuring its long-term durability.
Standing at a height of 2,050 feet over the Beipan River, the bridge offers breathtaking views of the countryside below, when not obscured by clouds. Weighing a total of 215 metric tons, this nearly mile-long structure is reinforced with massive steel components. Officials anticipate that the bridge will enhance connectivity in the region, linking Guizhou to the rest of the country and spurring economic growth.
Chen Jianlei, deputy director of Guizhou Transport Department, emphasized the bridge’s role in bolstering economic ties between neighboring cities, promoting regional economic integration. The chief engineer expressed immense pride in seeing the completion of this remarkable project, which cost £227 million and took three years to build.
The main deck of the bridge comprises 93 segments, collectively weighing 22,000 tons – three times heavier than the Eiffel Tower. As the roadway gradually extended over the vast canyon below, each segment was meticulously constructed one by one. The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge surpasses the Beipanjiang Bridge in Guizhou province as the world’s tallest bridge, offering a glass walkway and glass-floored observation points for tourists seeking a thrilling experience.
With a glass-covered elevator on one of its tower supports, tourists can ascend to the top of the bridge for panoramic views. The complex atop the bridge features a café and observation hall, along with a 207-meter-tall sightseeing elevator that swiftly reaches the top, allowing visitors to savor the scenery from 800 meters above the river.
This innovative project is hailed as China’s first bridge-tourism fusion complex, blending sightseeing, adventure sports, and travel services into a single captivating destination. Guests can engage in various activities such as the “sky balance beam,” bungee jumping, and low-altitude skydiving, offering a unique and thrilling experience for visitors.