China's Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge: World's Tallest Bridge Transforms Travel from 2 Hours to 2 Minutes

The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, requiring over three years of construction, has now been completed and opened to the public.

China has unveiled the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, officially recognized as the world's tallest bridge. Standing at a breathtaking height of 625 meters above a gorge in Guizhou province, this engineering masterpiece transforms connectivity in one of China's most challenging terrains. According to BBC reports, the bridge dramatically reduces travel time across the Huajiang Grand Canyon from a two-hour journey to just two minutes.

State media broadcast live drone footage on September 28 showing vehicles traversing the enormous bridge, its distinctive blue support towers partially veiled by clouds. The grand opening ceremony attracted numerous spectators, including project engineers and local government officials who shared their enthusiasm and pride during live interviews, as reported by AFP.

The bridge underwent extensive testing last month to verify its structural integrity. Engineering teams conducted comprehensive load tests using 96 strategically positioned trucks to simulate heavy traffic conditions. More than 400 sensors monitored the bridge's main span, towers, cables, and suspenders for any structural shifts, ensuring maximum safety and stability.

With its completion, the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge now holds two significant world records: the highest bridge globally and the largest-span bridge constructed in mountainous terrain. Beyond its transportation function, the bridge serves as a tourist destination featuring a 207-meter sightseeing elevator, sky cafes, and viewing platforms offering spectacular canyon vistas.

The impressive structure extends 2,900 meters in total length, with a main span measuring 1,420 meters, and towers 625 meters above the canyon floor. Project manager Wu Zhaoming from Guizhou Transportation Investment Group Co., Ltd. emphasized the numerous obstacles overcome during construction, including temperature management during large concrete pours, stabilization of steep canyon slopes, and mitigation of strong wind effects.

Despite these significant challenges, the construction team completed the project ahead of schedule, creating the largest span bridge in mountainous terrain. Notably, China now dominates global bridge engineering, with eight of the world's ten tallest bridges already operational, all located in Guizhou province.