A new record has just been set in the world of bridges. A 1,726-foot-long bridge was completed by the Architectural Design & Research Institute of Zhejiang University in the Huangchuan Three Gorges Scenic Area of southern China. The bridge, which spans the Lianjiang River, has officially been recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest glass-bottomed bridge in the world.
Photo: Lianzhou Qingtian Tourism Development Co., Ltd.
The World’s Longest Glass-Bottomed Bridge Just Opened in China
Photo: Lianzhou Qingtian Tourism Development Co., Ltd.
Photo: Lianzhou Qingtian Tourism Development Co., Ltd.
The suspension bridge connects two sides of a gorge 660 feet above the river and has a capacity of 500 people. Suspended from cables and supported by two red towers at either end, it’s constructed using three layers of tempered laminated glass, and has a transparent bottom that allows tourists to look directly down at the water. There are also large viewing areas where visitors can stop to take photos. The glass-bottomed feature offers a pretty cool perspective, but if you’re afraid of heights, this bridge might just be your worst nightmare.
Photo: Lianzhou Qingtian Tourism Development Co., Ltd.
The bridge’s glass design is intended to merge the structure with its natural surroundings. According to the studio, “The glazing endows the bridge deck with crystal-like lustre, high transparency and refractive index…Through blending the structure into the natural surroundings and deploying innovative construction methods, the design team realized the seamless integration of nature and the artificial.” 