Wonder bridge

Bridges are among the most spectacular structures on Earth, as they support thousands of metric tons of steel and concrete in the air in a way that almost seems magical.

Stretching 1,420 meters, the main span of the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge towers 625 meters above the Beipan River in Guizhou province. When it opens soon, it will be the world's highest and longest span in mountainous terrain and will shorten travel time between the two sides from two hours to two minutes.

Colored light blue and green, the bridge's two towers suggest an ancient Chinese wine jug, which reflects Guizhou's deep-rooted baijiu culture and the world-famous Moutai liquor.

To describe the world-class project, the builders used a vivid analogy of two "sky-high trees", 1,420 meters apart, connected by two giant "clotheslines", or cables which are 2,378 meters long and nearly 1 meter thick. From this, 91 pairs of hangers — the "suspenders" — are strung vertically, spaced 15.4 meters apart, to hold up the long, four-lane bridge deck, which can be imagined as a "clothes drying platform".

Built across one of the deep canyons in China, the bridge was erected in one of the most challenging environments imaginable by workers who can only be described as heroic. The air can be calm, but then in seconds the wind can gust to more than 100 kilometers per hour, enough to blow a man off his perch. To master the forces of nature, engineers deployed a laser radar wind scanning system, mapping air flow in three dimensions in real time.

The bridge was built with amazing speed, requiring about four years from groundbreaking to carrying traffic. When it opens to the world, it will carry more than vehicles. It will carry history, hope and the weight of a nation's dreams.

Visitors will see an architectural marvel. But they can also expect a cafe high atop one of the towers, heart-stopping bungee jumping and a walk on a glass platform suspended above the canyon.

Contact the writers at shanjuan@chinadaily.com.cn