April 23, 2025, 12:04 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
You don’t need to suffer from a fear of heights to find this idea a bit unsettling: In China, specifically in the southern province of Guizhou, the world’s highest bridge is currently under construction—an impressive 625 meters above the river it spans. TRAVELBOOK has the dizzying details about the construction project.
TRAVELBOOK has already reported on “one of the highest bridges” in the world: the Millau Viaduct in France. The pylons of this two-and-a-half-kilometer-long bridge, which spans the Tarn River, rise an impressive 336.4 meters. This structure, long a tourist attraction, still holds the title of the highest bridge in Europe. Yet, it seems almost modest compared to the Chinese Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge currently under construction.
World’s Highest Bridge Being Built in China
The engineers of the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge in China’s Guizhou province are working on something particularly grand: the actual highest bridge in the world, in terms of the height of the roadway above the ground. This ground is the Beipan River, which is already spanned by the Beipanjiang Bridge a few kilometers away. Until now, the Beipanjiang Bridge (also known as the Duge Bridge) held the title of the highest bridge in the world in terms of the distance between the roadway and the ground.
The “super project”—as Chinese media like “China Daily” call it—has been under construction since 2022. According to a report by the newspaper, the opening is planned for July 2025. Then, the highest bridge in the world is expected to become a “world-class tourist destination,” according to Zhang Shenglin, one of the chief engineers of the responsible construction company and a member of China’s highest parliament.
Details on the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge
According to “China Daily,” the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge will not only be the highest but also the longest bridge ever built in a mountainous region. It connects the city of Liuzhi with Anlong County, crossing a previously hard-to-reach valley known as the “Rift in the Earth.” The reason is clear from the pictures. Its key data make the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge a central hub of the southwestern Chinese expressway network. Previously, the journey would have taken about two hours; the mega-bridge reduces travel time to just two minutes.
The immense technical feat behind the construction project is highlighted by the enormous weight of the bridge. The steel beams alone weigh about 22,000 tons. For comparison, the steel structure of the Eiffel Tower weighs “only” about 7,300 tons. Given the challenges of construction—especially over a deep gorge—the logistical effort of the assembly is also evident.
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Background of the Super Project
The construction of the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge is intended to boost the economy in the rural region. Improved accessibility is expected to promote the sale of regional products, from agricultural goods to traditional handicrafts. According to “China Daily,” the construction of the Yundu Service Center is also planned: a 21,100-square-meter multifunctional complex with dining, shopping, and entertainment options, as well as accommodations for visitors.