On Sunday, September 28, 2025, China officially opened the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, setting a new world record for the highest bridge. Live drone footage aired by state media showed vehicles crossing the massive structure, its blue towers piercing through the clouds.
The bridge, completed in just three years, surpasses the previous record held by another bridge in Guizhou Province.
Crowds of onlookers, engineers, and local officials gathered for the inauguration ceremony. Many expressed pride and excitement, calling the bridge an extraordinary achievement in modern engineering.
The world’s tallest bridge opens to traffic in China’s Guizhou today! 625m above the river and over “the Earth’s crack,” the bridge shortens travel time b/n mountainsides from 2h to 2 minutes. More👎pic.twitter.com/Ra7gF2jjdO
— Zhang Meifang (@CGMeifangZhang) September 28, 2025
About the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge
The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge spans a 1,420-meter main section, making it the “world’s largest-span bridge built in a mountainous area,” Xinhua reported. Towering 625 meters above the river and gorge, it surpasses the nearby 565-meter Beipanjiang Bridge, now the world’s second-highest.
“The opening of the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge reduces travel time between the two sides from two hours to two minutes,” said Zhang Yin, head of the provincial transport department.
She added that the bridge brings:
- Enormous improvements to regional transportation
- New impetus for regional economic and social development
Engineering Feat and Scenic Highlights
State media noted that nearly half of the world’s 100 highest bridges are located in Guizhou Province. While the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge claims the record for height above the ground, the world’s tallest bridge structure — measured by structural height — remains France’s Millau Viaduct.
The bridge stretches nearly 3 kilometers across the gorge, equivalent to the height of a 200-story skyscraper, and even includes a scenic coffee shop for visitors.
Impact on Travel and Local Communities
The new bridge slashes travel times for locals from 2 hours to just 2 minutes, dramatically improving transportation in the rugged southern province. It is expected to boost tourism, connect remote areas, and strengthen the local economy.
Residents and tourists alike expressed curiosity and admiration for the project, highlighting it as a point of national pride and engineering excellence.
The world’s highest bridge opened to traffic in China, capping an engineering feat three years in the making and snatching the record from another bridge in the same province.
A Landmark Achievement
The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge represents one of China’s most ambitious infrastructure projects, demonstrating advanced engineering capabilities and reinforcing the country’s growing reputation for megastructures.
With its official opening, China now holds the world record for the tallest bridge above the ground, providing a model for future large-scale transportation projects worldwide.
