A world-record suspension bridge is set to debut in Yunnan, China

Exploring China’s stunning Yunnan province is about to become both easier and more exhilarating, with the grand opening of the world’s first single-tower, single-span suspension bridge next month.

Spanning 798 meters over a river valley, the Lvzhijiang Bridge may not be among the longest in the world, but its innovative design has earned it acclaim as a true engineering marvel.

The bridge stretches above the Lvzhijiang River (meaning ‘Green Juice River’) and juts out from tunnels carved into the steep mountain cliffs flanking the valley.

World’s longest single-tower, single-span suspension bridge

Officials assert that the bridge sets multiple world records.

Located in a rugged V-shaped valley, this bridge is the world’s first single-tower, single-span suspension structure, supported only by a single tower with cables anchoring both ends. Its striking design lacks additional columns, creating a dramatic, gravity-defying effect.

The bridge spans a remarkable 780 meters, and it boasts the world’s steepest tunnel anchorage, sloping at an impressive 54 degrees.

Given the region’s rugged terrain, all key structural components – including the 156-meter-high tower, the bridge’s approach slab at one end, and the tunnel anchorage at the opposite end – are situated on steep inclines.

The project manager shared with Chinese state media, 'The height difference between the bridge deck and the assembly yard is 320 meters, or roughly 100 stories… The complexity of this project is unprecedented in China.'

The bridge connects Yuxi City and the Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan, drastically reducing travel time between the two areas.

The bridge has a maximum speed limit of 100 kilometers per hour.

Construction on the project began in 2019, and it took approximately three years to complete. It is scheduled to open to traffic by the end of April 2022.

Bringing Yunnan closer to the rest of China

While Yuxi City (known for its tobacco industry) and Chuxiong (an autonomous region of the Yi people famous for its dinosaur museum) may not be major tourist hubs, both are centrally located in Yunnan province, nestled between key cities like Kunming and Dali.

The Lvzhijiang Bridge plays a crucial role in the 190-kilometer-long Yuchu Expressway and is an essential part of the 9,000-kilometer Yunnan Highway network.

The Yuchu Expressway connects Yunnan to other major national highways, including the Hangzhou-Ruili Expressway (linking western Yunnan to Myanmar) and the Guangzhou-Kunming Expressway.

Constructing world-class highways is just one of the many engineering achievements in China’s western province in recent months. In October 2021, a new high-speed China-Laos Railway was inaugurated.

Image credit: Yao Sichao/VCG via Getty Images