Bridge to prosperity

World's highest bridge

The Huajiang Canyon Bridge, which is 2,890 meters long and 625 meters above the river, will be the world's highest when construction is finished in 2025.

Guizhou province is currently promoting a new tourism model that combines its bridges. The Balinghe Bridge, for example, allows tourists to see the Baling River 370 meters below. It held a base-jumping competition in 2012 with contestants from 16 countries. It has since developed a trapeze, paragliding and bungee jumping. Around the current highest bridge, the Beipanjiang Bridge, there are hotel rooms on top of cliffs so that guests can take in breathtaking views of the bridge through their windows.

As a major bridge-tourism integration project of the province during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), the Huajiang Canyon Bridge folded tourism into its plan in the early stages. A glass sightseeing elevator will be built, with a bar atop the bridge tower and a restaurant in its belly. It also plans to offer extreme sports activities such as bungee jumping and climbing.

Constructing such a high bridge in mountains with complex terrain required the developers to overcome many challenges. For example, strong winds in the canyon cause difficulties in construction. Also, to increase bearing capacity for such a large bridge, it uses concrete with a high proportion of cement. To avoid resonance, decrease wind resistance and improve stability, it uses steel truss girders, said Wang Chaoguo, who is in charge of construction on the Liuzhi side of the canyon for the Guizhou Highway Engineering Group Third Engineering Co.

When it opens to traffic in 2025, driving time between the two sides will be cut from an hour and a half to 2 minutes, benefiting travelers and boosting the regional economy, he added.