New Record in China: World's Tallest Bridge Opens, Cutting Travel Time from Two Hours to Two Minutes

The Chinese continue to set records.

The HuaJiang Gorge Bridge, built over the HuaJiang Gorge in southern Guizhou province, China, stands tall and proud at 625 meters above ground level. It was opened on Sunday, September 28, and officially declared the tallest bridge in the world. The bridge now joins other historical breakthroughs in the country, including the world's largest indoor Snow World and ski facility introduced last December in Shanghai. 

With a central span distance of 1,420 meters and a total length of nearly three kilometers, the bridge is a key part of the new highway connecting the Anshun and Qianxi areas. Belonging to a large-scale infrastructure project that wishes to improve transportation in the mountainous province of Guizhou, the bridge is considered one of the country’s most impressive engineering achievements in the last decade.

By dramatically reducing travel time from two hours to less than two minutes between its two ends, the bridge will provide a much-needed direct connection between the remote areas affected by limited access so far. The HuaJiang Gorge Bridge is also intended to strengthen economic and tourist cooperation between the regions and serve as an engine for local growth.

HuaJiang Gorge Bridge in Guizhou, China. Photo: Shutterstock

The complex project introduced engineers to difficult terrain conditions, strong winds, and a mountainous climate, forcing them to make use of innovative technologies, including 2,000 megapascal strength steel cables and an advanced suspension system. The bridge was designed as part of a concept integrating transportation, tourism, and ecology, including a high-altitude running track, a glass observation deck, elevators, and a café at the top of one of its towers.

Environmentally, the bridge was constructed with the thought of preserving natural values in mind, creating a route that minimizes harm to rare plants and promotes material recycling and the use of solar and wind energy.

The opening will be marked by an Iron Man competition and a bungee jumping tournament, further establishing it as a global extreme sports destination. The bridge will also be incorporated into an extensive tourist network that already includes the Huangguoshu Waterfalls and Wan Feng Lin Park for additional cultural paths and varied experiences.

HuaJiang Gorge Bridge in Guizhou, China. Photo: Shutterstock