China opens world’s highest bridge

China has opened the world’s highest bridge to traffic. The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge stands 625 meters above a gorge in Guizhou province—twice the height of London’s Shard—and reduces what was previously an hour-long drive around mountain roads to a one-minute crossing.

China has opened the world’s highest bridge to the public. The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge soars 625 meters (2,050 feet) above a gorge in southwest China’s Guizhou province—twice the height of London’s Shard.

The massive steel structure, which also holds the record for the largest span bridge in a mountainous area, will dramatically cut travel time. What used to be an hour-long drive around winding mountain roads now takes just one minute.

Construction took three and a half years, with the 22,000-ton suspension bridge—equivalent to three Eiffel Towers in weight—opening after rigorous safety testing in August. The bridge is part of China’s infrastructure push to connect underdeveloped mountainous regions, reducing travel times and transportation costs.