World’s Record-Breaking Suspension Bridge to Open in Yunnan, China

Traveling through China’s stunning Yunnan province is about to become both more accessible and exhilarating, with the world’s first single-tower, single-span suspension bridge scheduled to open next month.

At 798 meters long, the Lvzhijiang Bridge may not be the longest bridge globally, but its design complexity has earned it the title of an engineering wonder.

The bridge stretches above the Lvzhijiang River (meaning “Green Juice River”) and extends from tunnels that cut through the steep mountain slopes on either side of the valley.

The Longest Single-Tower, Single-Span Suspension Bridge

Authorities assert that the bridge sets multiple world records.

Located in a V-shaped mountain valley, it is the world’s first single-tower, single-span suspension bridge, supported only by one tower and cables at both ends. With no additional columns, it presents a stunning, gravity-defying design.

The bridge’s single span measures 780 meters, and it features the steepest tunnel anchorage in the world, angled at 54 degrees, according to officials.

The challenging terrain of the area has led to the construction of key structural elements – the 156-meter-high tower, the bridge’s approach slab at one end, and the tunnel anchorage at the other – all positioned on steep slopes.

The project manager explained to Chinese state media that 'the height difference between the bridge deck and the assembly yard is 320 meters, roughly equivalent to 100 stories... the complexity of this project is unmatched in China.'

The bridge will connect Yuxi City and Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan, significantly reducing travel time between the two regions.

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

Construction began in 2019 and took about three years to complete. The bridge is expected to be open to traffic by late April 2022.

Linking Yunnan with the rest of China

While Yuxi City, known for its tobacco production, and Chuxiong, famous for its dinosaur museum, aren't major tourist hotspots, both are centrally located in Yunnan province, nestled between popular cities like Kunming and Dali.

The Lvzhijiang Bridge is an integral part of the 190-kilometer-long Yuchu Expressway and the 9,000-kilometer Yunnan Highway network.

The Yuchu Expressway connects Yunnan to other key national highways, including the Hangzhou-Ruili Expressway, which reaches the western city of Ruili near Myanmar, and the Guangzhou-Kunming Expressway.

In addition to building groundbreaking highways, Yunnan has recently accomplished another remarkable engineering project with the launch of the new China-Laos high-speed railway in October 2021.

Photo credit: Yao Sichao/VCG via Getty Images