This mysterious land is Guizhou Province, China. Guizhou is located in the southwestern part of China, with 92.5% of its area covered by mountains.
According to experts, since the late 1970s, Guizhou Province has built nearly 30,000 bridges. Currently, this region is home to nearly half of the world’s 100 highest bridges.
In fact, due to the large number and variety of bridges, as well as the complex technologies used in their construction, Guizhou has been dubbed the “Bridge Museum of the World.”
Guizhou Province is home to many of the tallest bridges in the world today. (Photo: Xinhua).
Through bridge building, the deep canyons of Guizhou have transformed into major roads. As a result, Guizhou Province is currently playing a crucial role in China’s transportation network. Local residents also feel that their quality of life has improved.
On the other hand, many bridges in Guizhou have become famous tourist attractions due to their stunning surrounding landscapes.
The Beipan River Bridge stands approximately 565 m above the river surface. (Photo: Xinhua).
The Beipan River Bridge is a prime example. Situated about 565 m above the river, equivalent to the height of a 200-story building, this bridge has been recognized as the highest bridge in the world by the Guinness World Records.
Mr. Ma Xuanjun, a farmer living near the Beipan River Bridge, converted his newly built brick house into a rural homestay in 2019 and began welcoming visitors from everywhere.
“Before the bridge was built, it was very difficult for us to go outside. We used to have to use ropes to cross. But only brave men dared to use them. Some had fallen into the river while crossing. Meanwhile, women and the elderly had to spend up to 4 hours climbing over mountains and valleys to reach the nearest town,” Mr. Ma Xuanjun shared.
Close-up of the Beipan River Bridge recognized as the highest bridge in the world. (Photo: Xinhua).
However, many tourists now visit Mr. Ma Xuanjun’s village because the world’s highest bridge is built here.
Above the deep canyon of the Huatung River, where towering cliffs and fast-flowing waters are found, another major project for a steel cable-stayed bridge is underway. This bridge, with a vertical height of 625 m (measured from the bridge deck to the water surface), is expected to become the highest bridge in the world once completed in 2025.
Experts state that this project will reduce travel time through the canyon from about one hour to just one minute.
How is the world’s highest mountain-crossing suspension bridge being built?
China is constructing the world’s highest mountain-crossing suspension bridge, with a height of 625m. (Photo: Xinhua).
The world’s highest mountain-crossing suspension bridge, also known as the Huatung Canyon Bridge, will have a total length of 2,980 m, with a main span of 1,420 m. Engineers constructing this project have stated that the main body of the bridge is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. The bridge is anticipated to be ready for traffic in early 2025.
The project is still under construction and is expected to be completed in 2025. (Photo: Xinhua).
The Huatung Canyon Bridge will have a main span longer than any other mountain bridge in the world. It will surpass the Beipan River Bridge (which is 565 m above the river) to become the highest bridge in the world.
From a construction perspective, this bridge is more complex, especially regarding its supports. Normally, bridge supports have four sides, but to create space for an observation platform, engineers agreed on a plan to build six-sided bridge supports.
Once completed, the bridge is expected to play a significant role in developing the rural areas along the Liuzhi – Anlong expressway. Without the bridge, it takes people about 70 minutes to drive from one side to the other. However, once the bridge opens to traffic, the 70-minute journey will be reduced to just about 1 minute. This will contribute to a significant boost for the local economy, thereby improving the livelihoods of the residents.
