China’s Scary Glass Bridges

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: China is busy building engineering marvels. These include some of the scariest bridges across mountains. Over and above them, they are glassbottomed.

They have all been opened to tourists who may be interested in adventure tourism. They combine recreation, stimulation, amusement and health care, says Pan Zhaofu, director of Chinese Tourism.

One such walkway, 550 metres long stretches across southwest China’s Huangguoshu Scenic Area.

Measured at 1,804 feet, the new bridge was considered to be the longest glass bridge in the world till a few years ago, breaking the record of another famous bridge, which is also located in China. Huangguoshu Bridge was opened in 2020.

Three years before this, China opened Hongyagu glass suspension bridge in Hebei province which is 488 metres long. It was billed as the world's longest glassbottomed suspension bridge but the Huangguoshu bridge has overtaken it.

But the most heart-stopping is the Flying Saucer Bridge in Gansu province which is glass-bottomed and has a flying saucer like platform suspended at the intersection of two long glass skyways. It is a marvel which defies gravity.

It is 2,800 metres long. It seems to have been plucked from the realms of fiction. There are no fulcrums that support this architectural marvel. It is 400 metres above the ground and is suspended like a celestial saucer. It offers a mesmerizing glimpse of the surrounding hills and water falls.

With transparent glass panels in its bottom, it is like walking on air. It has been declared the longest glass bridge in the Guinness Book of World Records. It is an accomplishment of human engineering which boggles the mind and leaves the walkers breathless.

Those weak of heart are advised not to take a walk on the glass walkways emanating from four sides to conjoin at the centre where the saucer like platform is suspended. Tourists have said their palms sweat and legs quiver while undertaking a walk across the bridge.