Grand Canyon Bridge Opens for Traffic in China

The Grand Canyon Bridge in Shan Jiang was officially opened to vehicles for the first time on Sunday, according to Chinese state media.

This impressive structure is located in Guizhou Province, spanning the Beipan River and crossing over the Jiang Valley.

At 2,050 feet above the river, it boasts a length of about 10,000 feet, with the main section measuring around 5,000 feet.

According to Zhang Shenglin, the chief engineer from Guizhou Highway Engineering Group, this bridge represents a massive engineering achievement, bridging “cracks of the Earth.”

He further noted that it aims to highlight China’s engineering prowess and help Guizhou achieve its ambition of becoming a top-tier tourist location.

After three years of hard work, the newly completed bridge has reportedly cut travel times by up to two hours, as stated by Reuters.

Professor Mamdouh El-Badry from the University of Civil Engineering remarked that projects of this magnitude typically take five to ten years to complete. This timeline takes into account various factors, such as the environment, politics, and logistics.

The French Mirau viaduct, now the previous record holder for the tallest bridge, measures 8,070 feet in length and is nearly 1,000 feet above the River Turn.

The bridge supports, seven concrete pillars, are each 1,125 feet tall—taller than the Eiffel Tower, according to the European Space Agency.

Meanwhile, the Canakkale Bridge in northwestern Türkiye holds the title for the longest suspension bridge, stretching over a mile.