The breathtaking canyon crossing opened in September 2025 and took about three years to finish
Journey time between the canyon’s two sides now takes simply two minutes, in line with officers (Picture: Getty)
China has opened the world’s highest bridge, and it didn’t include the value tag many would anticipate. The Huajiang Canyon Bridge opened to the general public on September 18 and spans an unlimited mountain gorge in south-west China.
It price 2.1billion Chinese language renminbi to construct, which is roughly £216million – surprisingly low cost, given its record-breaking scale. The bridge stretches throughout the Beipan River in Guizhou Province, an space identified for its rugged terrain and deep valleys. Earlier than it existed, travelling between close by areas meant navigating winding mountain roads or counting on ferries, with journeys reportedly taking two hours.
We use your sign-up to offer content material in methods you have consented to and to enhance our understanding of you. This will embody adverts from us and third events primarily based on our understanding. You may unsubscribe at any time. Learn our Privateness Coverage
In the present day, the journey throughout the river takes simply two minutes.
The bridge has been licensed by the Guinness World Data because the world’s highest (Picture: Getty)
In comparison with a number of the world’s different megaprojects, the bridge was constructed on fairly a modest finances.
The Queensferry Crossing, for instance, which is the UK’s tallest bridge, price about £1.35billion to construct.
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, which is the world’s longest sea crossing, stretching 34 miles throughout the Pearl River Delta, price about £15billion to construct.
Quite than performing complicated meeting within the hazardous circumstances of the canyon ground, a lot of the development was modular. Parts had been manufactured off-site, transported to the placement and lifted into place.
The fast and comparatively low-cost building might be defined by the venture’s construction, in line with loveMONEY.com.
The builder, Guizhou Highway and Bridge Group Co Ltd, is state-owned. Authorities backing can streamline approvals, funding and logistics, serving to to keep away from delays that always have an effect on personal initiatives.
One other possible issue is the usage of engineers early of their careers, who sometimes earn decrease salaries. Mixed with usually decrease wage ranges, this helps cut back total building prices whereas nonetheless sustaining a big, expert workforce.
The venture was commissioned to revitalise the Guizhou province, which is a distant and mountainous area.
Get prime tales from The Specific despatched straight to your cellphone Be part of us on WhatsApp
Our group members are handled to particular affords, promotions, and adverts from us and our companions. You may try at any time. Learn our Privateness Coverage
Work started in early 2022. The bridge towers 2,053ft above the river beneath and is sort of twice as tall as London’s Shard. It has a complete size of 9,480ft.
It required 22,000 tons of metal for the trusses and large suspension cables, all constructed to face up to excessive wind turbulence and difficult karst geology.
As reported by Xinhua, the bridge was licensed by Guinness World Data because the world’s highest bridge, with a confirmed peak of 626.01 metres on Tuesday.
Luo Qiong, an official adjudicator with Guinness World Data, stated on the certification ceremony: “The ultimate confirmed peak of the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge is 626.01 metres, surpassing the earlier world report of 565.4 metres. The problem has been profitable.”
Leave a Reply