A recently reopened bridge in southwestern China’s Sichuan province collapsed on Tuesday, local authorities confirmed, adding that no casualties were reported.
The incident occurred along National Highway G317, a vital route connecting China’s inland provinces with Tibet. The Hongqi Bridge, located in Maerkang City, had been closed a day earlier after engineers discovered cracks on nearby slopes and roads as well as terrain shifts that raised safety concerns.
According to local police, the situation worsened on Tuesday afternoon, when a landslide triggered the collapse of the bridge’s approach span and roadbed, sending massive debris into the river below.
Authorities confirmed the bridge was fully closed before the collapse, preventing any casualties or injuries.
🚨 China’s Hongqi Bridge in Sichuan has collapsed just months after reopening.
The 758m bridge was closed a day earlier due to cracks—no casualties reported.#HongqiBridge #ChinaNews #Sichuan #BridgeCollapse #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/BdwlUZIusN
— LoudFact (@loudfactcom) November 11, 2025
Landslide Caught on Camera
Footage shared on Chinese social media platforms captured the dramatic moment the Hongqi Bridge gave way. Videos showed a section of the mountain sliding into the gorge, followed by the bridge collapsing into the river amid clouds of dust and rock.
The Maerkang Emergency Management Bureau said that stabilization work is now underway in the surrounding area to prevent further landslides. Officials have also launched a safety investigation into the cause of the collapse.
About the Hongqi Bridge
The Hongqi Bridge was completed earlier this year as part of China’s ambitious G317 national highway project, an essential route designed to improve connectivity between central China and Tibet.
Located in Sichuan’s mountainous Maerkang region, the 758-meter-long structure was built by the Sichuan Road & Bridge Group, a state-backed infrastructure company.
The bridge was a cantilevered two-lane beam bridge, standing approximately 625 meters above the gorge floor, supported by piers reaching 172 meters in height.
A Symbol of Progress Turned Tragic
The Hongqi Bridge had only reopened to traffic a few months ago, following extensive reconstruction and inspection. It was hailed as a symbol of China’s modern engineering and an important milestone for regional economic development.
Authorities had envisioned the bridge as part of a broader infrastructure upgrade along the G317 corridor, connecting Shuangjiangkou Dam reservoir and the Tibetan Plateau, both vital to western China’s transportation and trade.
However, the collapse has now raised questions about construction quality and geological risk assessments in the region, known for its rugged mountain terrain and landslide-prone slopes.
Ongoing Investigation and Response
Emergency response teams and geologists are on-site to assess the extent of the damage and monitor the surrounding area for additional ground movement.
Officials said all traffic has been diverted to alternative routes, and bridge reconstruction plans will be reviewed after a full safety evaluation.
The collapse of the Hongqi Bridge underscores the challenges of maintaining large-scale infrastructure projects in geologically unstable regions, even amid China’s push for modernization and connectivity.
