World Longest Glass Bottom Suspension Bridge, China
If the height and swinging cables don't get to you, the transparent bottom almost certainly will.
Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, is the world's longest and highest glass-bottomed bridge "Haohan Bridge" — better known as the "Brave Men's Bridge" — is the longest glass-bottom bridge in the world.
It offers a way to enjoy a panoramic view of the stunning Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon — if you dare to walk on it! It doesn't just serve as a walkway — visitors can go bungee jumping and zip-lining off of it as well.
Height:
300 meters (984 feet)Length:
430 meters (1,410 feet)Width:
6 meters (20 feet)Cost:
460 million yuan (£48 million)
On September 2, 2016, just 13 days after the bridge was opened, the authorities put out a notice saying that they are closing the bridge due to overwhelming visitor traffic. The bridge, designed to hold 800 people at a time and expected to be visited by about 8,000 people per day, had reportedly attracted more than 80,000 visitors per day.
Considered a feat of Structural Engineering and architectural marvel. Designed by architect Haim Dotan. "We drove a 40 ton truck over one of the glass panels, and the deflection was only 2.16 cm,” says Haim Dotan, the Tel Aviv-based architect behind the project. “But this was not enough. So we invited people to take hammers to the bridge, hammering the glass for five minutes. Under these heavy blows only the top layer shattered – the bottom two remained intact.” The walkway cost 460 million yuan (£48 million) to construct and is made from a triple layer of 50 mm 12m2 glass panes. The bridge itself is built from steel girders filled with reinforced cement, and Dotan says its 2,200 tonne weight helps pedestrians feel at ease.
Do not attempt it if you have heart problems, high blood pressure, or a fear of heights.
Tickets to access the glass bridge cost £16, in addition to the £13.50 charge to visit the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Scenic Area, which is located in China's Hunan Province.