Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge Opens to the World: A New Record in the Sky

On 28 September 2025, the first convoy of cars crossed the brand-new Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge in southwest China’s Guizhou province. 

Rising 625 metres above the Beipan River (that’s higher than two Eiffel Towers stacked together), the bridge now holds the title of world’s tallest bridge and marks a historic milestone for the region. 

From Blueprint to World Record 

Construction began in January 2022 and was completed in just three years and eight months. The suspension bridge stretches 2,890 metres end-to-end, with a 1,420-metre main span carried by twin towers each 262 metres high. Its hybrid suspension-and-steel-truss system supports nearly 22,000 tonnes of deck, designed to withstand extreme winds and temperature swings. 

Before opening, engineers staged one of the world’s most demanding bridge tests: 96 loaded lorries (≈3,300 tonnes) crossed in carefully timed groups while sensors tracked every movement. The bridge exceeded its design targets for strength and stability. 

A Lifeline for Guizhou 

For decades, crossing the Huajiang Canyon meant a dangerous, twisting road that could take up to 70 minutes. Now, it takes about 90 seconds. The bridge links two once-remote districts on the Guizhou S57 Liuzhi–Anlong Expressway, improving safety, slashing travel times and opening new trade routes. 

Locals describe it as more than an engineering feat – it’s a lifeline. Quicker journeys mean easier access to jobs, markets, schools and hospitals, as well as new opportunities for tourism and small business. 

Tourism Takes Flight 

Guizhou’s government plans to make the canyon itself a destination. Future attractions include: 

• A Zaha Hadid–inspired visitor centre and museum telling the bridge’s story 

• Glass-floor walkways and viewing platforms 

• Bungee, paragliding, skydiving and a high-altitude racetrack 

• Cafés perched on cliffs overlooking the Beipan River 

  
  

Homestays, outdoor activities and social-media fame are already fuelling local anticipation of a tourism boom. 

Engineering Meets Human Story 

The bridge is also part of a wider effort to position Guizhou, once known mainly for rugged terrain and limited transport links, as a hub for innovation, culture and adventure tourism. 

More than half of the world’s top 100 highest bridges now span Guizhou’s gorges, showcasing how infrastructure can reshape both landscapes and livelihoods. 

Lead structural engineer Chen Li, a Guizhou native, said the August tests “surpassed all design targets for strength, stiffness and fatigue life.” 

Project manager Wu Zhaoming called it “a study in strength and balance,” adding that the real measure of success will be safe travel, fuller markets and shared pride across the province. 

A Bold Line Across Stone and River 

As night fell on opening day, the first stream of cars carved bright ribbons of light across the canyon, a fitting symbol of progress. 

For the people of Guizhou, the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge is not just the highest bridge on Earth; it’s proof that connection can conquer even the most forbidding terrain.