The world’s highest and longest glass bridge just opened in China – and it looks terrifying
The world’s highest and longest glass bridge just opened in China – and it looks terrifying
By Dana Varinsky, Business Insider, August 22 2016
China Daily Information Corp/Reuters
Across China’s Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, 980 feet above the floor of the deep, tree-lined chasm, stretches a terrifying new glass-bottomed bridge.
The Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge opened to the public on August 20th in the Hunan Province, and is now the tallest and longest glass bridge ever built. The walkway is more than 1400 feet long and 6 feet wide, and can accommodate 800 visitors at a time.
Designed by Israeli Architect Haim Dotam, the bridge’s floor is made of 99 panels of multilayered glass, allowing those who dare to cross the chance to see just how far above the ground they stand.
Visitors cross the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge on August 20, 2016 China Stringer Network/Reuters
“The Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge was designed to be invisible as possible — a white bridge disappearing into the clouds,” Dotam said in a statement.
According to China’s CCTV , the bridge cost $3.4 million to build. It was originally slated to open earlier this summer, but the date was pushed back to allow for more rigorous safety inspections.
In June, volunteers were invited to try to smash the glass panels with sledgehammers to demonstrate their strength and durability. Officials also drove a car across the bridge during the test ceremony.
A man strikes the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge with a sledgehammer during a test ceremony on June 25, 2016 Reuters Staff/Reuters
The Zhangjiajie Bridge is the latest — and perhaps most impressive — in a series of glass walkways that have been constructed in China over the past couple of years. Earlier this summer, an 88-story glass skywalk debuted on the outside of Shanghai’s Jin Mao Tower, offering similar thrills.
In September 2015, the Brave Man’s Bridge opened in Shiniuzhai National Geologic Park, also in the Hunan province. A glass walkway built into the side of the Henan province’s Yuntai Mountain debuted the same month, reaching a height of 3,500 feet in certain places. But a little over two weeks after it opened, cracks appeared on one layer of a glass panel, prompting the skywalk to close temporarily, according to CBS News . The extra safety tests on the Zhangjiajie Bridge were conducted to avoid a similar problem.
Though the Zhangjiajie Bridge is now open to the public, construction is not entirely finished. By June 2017, courageous tourists will also be able to go bungee jumping off the side , in what will likely be the world’s highest bungee jump. Three enormous swings are also expected to dangle from the bridge, the biggest of which could be 500 feet long.
So if the thrill of crossing the world’s highest glass bridge doesn’t get your heart pumping, just wait until next summer.
Tags
Who is online
103 visitors
I may not be far from that structure, but you can be sure of one thing. Unless they put me in chains and drag me onto it there is no way I will walk on that thing. I have never been very comfortable with heights. When I was about 8 or 10 I went to the top floor of the "skyscraper" in my city. It was 18 stories high. The observation windows went from the ceiling to the floor. When I walked up to the window, I was so scared I got down on my hands and knees. I haven't changed much.
Can I assume you avoid visiting the mountains ? Looking over the edge of the typical mountain pass is enough to give the average person feelings of fear ...
No, Petey, I don't have any problem with mountains. Perhaps it's because I feel I'm on solid ground, I really don't know. Nor do I have a problem being in an airplane. But I've been in many towers (CN Tower - Toronto, Chengdu Tower - I did an article about that one) that have those glass floors, and I don't feel good about stepping on them.
So, no Buzz does Bungee Jumping articles coming anytime soon?
Buzz does not gamble about the strength of rope. No bungee jumping by me - let the guys who like to skydive do it.
Saw that one guy died in France the other day after hitting a tree....
For my 65 birthday, I jumped the Kawarau bridge in New Zealand, the first bungee jumps done were off the Kawarau bridge...
Hey Buzz, I'm still alive and it was a hell of a lot of fun.
Kavika checking off bucket list.
1. Bungee jumping...check (New Zealand)
2. hang gliding...check (New Zealand and the US)
3. hot air ballooning...check (California)
4. sky diving...check (all over the world)
5. black water rafting...check (New Zealand)
6. white water rafting...check ( US )
7. wreck diving (scuba)...check (South Pacific)
8, diving with the manta rays...check (Hawaii)
9 shark diving...check (Fiji)
10. walking on the glass skywalk over the Grand Canyon...check
11. Zip lining....check (Australia, Hawaii, US)
Come join me Buzz, and no I don't have a death wish.
Dear Friend Kavika: The only thing approaching a death wish in this life is ordering and consuming the "All you can hold down" Buffet at Jay's Diner.
Amazing what they can do with 100% synthetic composite materials these days.
E.
Niijii, I forgot to add that I did survive the ''all you can hold down'' at Jay's....
Probably the dangerous of my bucket list. LOL
JOIN YOU??? You're kidding, of course. Things accomplished:
1. Flying in a glider (Ontario)
2. Standing on the very edge of the Muana Loa volcano, having climbed over the railing, and looking down at the lava gleaming through the cracked basin.
3. Snorkeling in a lagoon at the end of the beach that was used for the movie South Pacific.
4. Crashing my motorbike in Bermuda.
5. Walking in on a dope bust.
6. Mistakenly walking into a lesbian bar in Provincetown.
Okay, not so dangerous as the things you've done. The only one where there was a good chance of my being killed was if the cliff face at the volcano would have broken off when I was standing on the edge. The only one where my freedom could have been sacrificed was walking in on the RCMP dope bust.
I want to hear more about numbers 5 and 6...
As for the dope bust, I was acting for some very interesting clients. One was making a lot of money and wanted to buy a house, asked me to prepare an offer for it. I did so, and on my way home went to his place to get the offer signed. I knocked on the door and the RCMP opened it, asked me to come in and what was I doing there. I showed them the offer and told them I was a lawyer and had just prepared it for my client to sign. They told me that perhaps I should leave, and rather than start with the lawyer shit about being his lawyer and representing him I got the hell out as fast as I could.
My best friend and I one summer while we were in law school drove to Provincetown, and there was a big shack at the end of a dock that seemed to be an interesting bar so we went in. When we did every eye in the place turned to look at us, and when we looked around we saw we really didn't belong there, nor would we be able to find a couple of girls who would be interested in us, so we left right away. This was a long time ago, and we were unaware of what Provincetown was famous for. I did get to eat the best lobster I ever had there, at least.
Years later I returned to Provincetown with a girl friend, and we stayed at a little hotel on the shore called the Colonial Inn. We made friends with the owner who took us out for dinner. He was a wine expert, and it was the first time I've seen anyone send a bottle of wine back after tasting it, and he sent TWO of them back. As well, the waiter had opened the bottle of champagne before he came to our table, and so our host sent that back as well. What an experience.
LOL, sounds like good decisions on your part, Buzz.
I'd believe I would need to have a longer handle on that sledge hammer, at least long enough so I could stand the glass panel adjacent to the one he is standing on. I don't care if he does have a safely belt around his waist.
I'd believe I would need to have a longer handle on that sledge hammer, at least long enough so I could stand the glass panel adjacent to the one he is standing on
Lordy!
I'm with you Six.
Watching that guy try and show how safe the bridge is only reminded me of the story about the Canadian Lawyer.
Man Dies Demonstrating Window's Strength
Claim: A Toronto lawyer demonstrating the safety of window panes in a skyscraper plunged through a window to his death.
Yes, it certainly is true. I recall when that idiot did that. He qualifies for a Darwin Award.
I did notice he had a safety line attached to him, though I might still watch form a distance.....
The idiot in Toronto didn't. I think he must have watched War and Peace just before he did it. There is a scene where Pierre (Peter Fonda) does to a window what that idiot did.
Now that is really cool, and their going to add bungee jumping.
I've never been bothered by heights so this is something that I would enjoy a lot.
Quite the feat and beautiful as well.
Good article Buzz.
"I've never been bothered by heights so this is something that I would enjoy a lot."
I'm aware of the fact that Indians are comfortable working on the steel girders on skyscrapers. I wonder why that is typical of Indians.
What I mean is not having fear of heights.
They just opened a Zipline attraction on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls-I'm looing forward to trying that!
Having been born and grew up an hour's drive from Niagara Falls I've seen enough of it.
I'd like to see it from that vantage point. I understand the zipline is more like a harness system that you pretty much have little to no control over, though it will give you the sense of 'adventure'.
Since I am 1) terrified of heights, and 2) unable right now to go to China, and 3) trying to walk at all, I seriously doubt that I will make an effort to cross this bridge. It looks neat, and I'm all for anyone interested in trying it, but bye and have a good time!