The World’s Highest Bridge Stands 565 Meters Above A Steep River Valley

The Beipanjiang Bridge, also called the Duge Bridge, is the highest bridge in the world, rising 565 meters (1,854 ft) above the Beipan River Valley and tucked between two sheer cliffs. It is a feat of engineering and an example of creativity, situated close to the boundary between the Chinese provinces of Guizhou and Yunnan. When the bridge was completed in 2016, it provided access to a previously inaccessible area and demonstrated the remarkable developments in Chinese bridge engineering by connecting Guizhou and Yunnan.

The world’s first bridge to cross the 500-meter height barrier—equivalent to a 200-story structure—is China’s Beipanjiang Duge Bridge. The bridge’s design had to overcome many obstacles because it was built in one of China’s most difficult terrains, including the steep cliffs that anchor its span and fierce high-altitude winds. The bridge defies the inherent instability that high-tension cables usually bring to bridge designs by distributing its load uniformly while being supported by cables that are attached to strong towers.

Stretching 720 meters (2,362 feet) across the Beipan River Valley, the bridge hovers above a river so deeply nestled between limestone cliffs that sunlight rarely reaches it directly. The Beipanjiang Bridge’s innovation earned it the Gustav Lindenthal Gold Medal, often called the “Nobel Prize” of bridge construction.

In 1994, China had just one bridge exceeding 122 meters (400 feet) in height; now, it boasts over 50 bridges taller than 152 meters, including 10 of the world’s tallest. However, the Beipanjiang Bridge may soon lose its title, as Guizhou is set to inaugurate the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, anticipated to reach a height of 625 meters.

For more engineering marvels, check out the Shiziguan Floating Bridge in Hubei and the Dadong River Gorge suspension bridge, adding to China’s collection of architectural feats.