World’s Highest Bridge Rises Over China’s Grand Canyon

Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge in China, a record-breaking project poised to redefine suspension bridge construction, has passed its final load test ahead of opening.

Located in Guizhou province, the world’s highest suspension bridge is on track to open in September, providing both a vital transport link and a new global landmark.

Earlier this week, a convoy of 96 heavy commercial trucks—together weighing 3,360 tonnes—rolled across the bridge deck to simulate heavy traffic congestion. 

The exercise formed the last major assessment of the bridge’s load-bearing capacity. Engineers described it as a full-scale “physical examination” to ensure structural integrity before opening.

“Preliminary analysis of the load test data shows that all measured indicators responded normally,” confirmed Han Hongju, deputy general manager and chief engineer of Guizhou Communications Investment Group, the contractor responsible for the project.

The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge stretches 2,890 metres, anchored by a 1,420-metre main span. Rising 625 metres above the Beipan River, it is set to become the world’s highest bridge and the longest suspension bridge ever built in mountainous terrain.

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To convey the scale, the project team likened the structure to two “sky-high trees” 1,420 metres apart, linked by a massive “clothesline” cable system, from which 91 suspender cables support the main deck. The deck itself measures 30.5 metres wide, weighs around 22,000 tonnes, and is elevated 8 metres above its supporting structure.

The two towers rise to 262 metres and 204 metres respectively, each equipped with cable saddles to stabilise the suspension system under immense loads.

Load testing was carried out using convoys of 18, 48, and finally 96 trucks, each weighing 35 tonnes. “This approach simulated varying traffic volumes and load distributions while ensuring there was no damage to the bridge structure,” explained Lei Min, technical director of the Bridge and Tunnel Division at Guizhou Shunkang Testing.

Originally planned for three days, the test programme was extended to five due to adverse weather. Both static and dynamic assessments were performed to verify the bridge’s ability to withstand its designed vehicle load.

Work on the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge began in January 2022 as part of the Liuzhi–Anlong Expressway. Once complete, it will slash travel across the canyon from two hours to just two minutes while also serving as a world-class tourist attraction.

“The bridge itself is a world-class attraction,” said Zhang Xiangyu of the tourism integration team, noting plans for activities such as bungee jumping and rope swinging.

For the global construction industry, the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge demonstrates not only the technical mastery of large-span suspension systems but also how infrastructure can merge functionality with tourism-driven economic growth.

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