TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The world's highest bridge, located in China, was officially opened for traffic on Sunday, September 28, 2025. The bridge significantly reduces travel time for passengers.
The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, which broke the record for the world's highest bridge in Southern China, stands approximately 600 meters above the Beipan River. This bridge replaced the world's highest bridge record from another bridge in the province, the Beipanjiang Bridge or Duge Bridge, which was built in 2016 across the same river.
According to NBC News, the world's highest bridge was built over three years and eight months of construction. The record-breaking bridge now connects major tourist spots in the region and reduces travel time across the valley from two hours to two minutes.
Boosting Tourism and Economy
With a length of 4,600 feet, the bridge also broke the record as the longest bridge in the world in a mountainous region, according to NBC News. In addition to faster travel across the valley, the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge was built in an effort to boost tourism and economic growth in the region.
One of the highest points of this bridge is home to a coffee shop standing approximately 800 meters above the river. Located on top of one of the towers, tourists can take a high-speed elevator to an observation point to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Thrill-seekers also have the option to try bungee jumping from the bridge, or walk along the glass walkway at a height of 1,900 feet in the air.
Guizhou Province, with a population of approximately 40 million people, has undergone infrastructure campaigns in the past few decades as part of the Chinese government's war on poverty. The province now has over 32,000 completed or under-construction bridges, compared to about 2,900 bridges in the 1980s.
Liang Shaoyu, former head of Huajiang Village, located directly under the bridge, reminisces about the difficult times when the local residents relied on bamboo boats, then a limestone bridge, and finally a steel chain bridge to cross the Huajiang River. "From the age of 8, I witnessed firsthand the harsh conditions in our village," said Liang, as quoted by Global Times.
Now with better roads, there are greater economic opportunities. This bridge attracts many enthusiasts from across the country and brings many business opportunities to Huajiang Village. Many old houses have been transformed into modern homestays amidst the surge in tourism, according to Liang.