Wedoany.com Report-Sept. 29, The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, the world’s highest bridge, opened to traffic on Sunday in Guizhou Province, southwest China. Soaring 625 meters above the Beipan River, the 2,890-meter-long suspension bridge spans the Huajiang Grand Canyon, reducing travel time across the chasm from two hours to approximately two minutes. Construction, which began in 2022, showcases advanced engineering in the region’s rugged karst landscape.

An aerial drone photo taken on Sept. 27, 2025 shows the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge at sunset in southwest China's Guizhou Province.

Guizhou, known for its mountainous terrain and lack of flat plains, relies heavily on bridges and tunnels for connectivity. The province hosts nearly half of the world’s 100 highest bridges, earning it the title “world’s bridge museum.” The Huajiang Bridge, with a main span of 1,420 meters, is the longest steel truss girder suspension bridge in mountainous terrain, surpassing the Beipanjiang Bridge, located 100 kilometers away, which held the height record at 565.4 meters since 2016.

“The creation of the world’s highest bridge was driven by engineering necessity rather than by a desire to set records,” said Yang Jian, chief engineer of the bridge’s design. “With the canyon surrounded by steep mountains, the project necessitated both bridges and tunnels. A lower bridge height would have required longer tunnels, which would both have increased overall costs and raised safety concerns due to increased driver fatigue.”

Wu Chaoming, project manager at Guizhou Communications Investment Group Co., Ltd., reflected on the region’s past challenges: “From my hometown to the county seat, there was only one bus per day, just as there was only one from the county seat to Guiyang, the provincial capital. The bus was bursting at the seams with people, like tightly packed bamboo shoots in spring.” The bridge significantly improves regional connectivity, supporting the Shanghai-Kunming expressway and fostering economic integration.

“The new bridge is a landmark project that showcases China’s innovation,” said Zhang Yin, head of Guizhou’s transportation department. The project achieved 21 patents through innovations in wind-resistant design and high-altitude construction, contributing to national bridge-building standards. Advanced technologies, including satellite navigation and smart monitoring systems, ensured precision in the challenging environment.

Beyond transportation, the bridge is designed to boost tourism. “Guizhou demonstrates that complex terrain is not a constraint, but a catalyst for innovation,” said bridge expert Ge Yaojun. Plans include a tourism zone with a cloud-top cafe, extreme sports facilities, and a triathlon event, which recently attracted nearly 200 athletes from over 20 countries. “For me, the hardest part about this race was not being distracted by the amazing view,” said Australian triathlete Joshua Pedlow, aged 19. The bridge is expected to draw over one million visitors annually, supporting local industries like agriculture and hospitality.