Summary
Highlights
Located in China's Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, this 400-foot-long, 900-foot-high glass bridge opened in 2016. It's part of a trend of glass suspension structures in China, offering visitors a thrilling experience with transparent views of the landscape below. Despite an earlier incident where another glass walkway cracked, extensive tests, including driving a car across it, proved its sturdiness. Safety measures limit visitors to 600-800 people at a time.
The Millau Viaduct is considered the world's tallest bridge based on its tower height (1104 feet), exceeding the Eiffel Tower. While its deck height is 17th tallest, driving over it feels like being in the clouds, especially during frequent cloudy conditions. This cable-stayed bridge is a major link on the E11 motorway between Calais and the French and Spanish Mediterranean coasts. Its construction broke several records and involved a massive team effort, with no loss of life during the three-year build.
Located in Da Nang, Vietnam, this unique footbridge is renowned for its design featuring giant, weathered hands supporting the golden pathway. The architect aimed to evoke the sensation of walking along a thread held by the hands of God. Completed as part of a $2 billion tourism investment, the bridge blend seamlessly with its natural surroundings, offering stunning views and attracting a significant number of tourists.
The Kaju Bridge in Isfahan, built around 1650 on an older structure, connects the Kaju and Takhteh Foulad quarters across the Zayandeh River. This 430-foot-long, 40-foot-wide bridge functions as both a crossing and a weir, regulating river flow for irrigation with its sluice gates. Its intricate design includes a central aisle and side pedestrian walks, providing a cool environment even in hot weather, thanks to its unique interplay of vaults and inlets.
This unique lift bridge in Bordeaux, France, spans over 1800 feet, with its central section lifting vertically by 360 feet to allow tall ships to pass. Named after a former Bordeaux mayor, construction began in 2009 and finished in 2013. The bridge can take 11 minutes to fully lift or lower and may remain closed to traffic for up to 90 minutes for larger vessels.
Situated in Malaysia, this 410-foot-long curved pedestrian cable-stayed bridge is an incredible 2170 feet above sea level. Accessible via the Langkawi cable car, the bridge offers spectacular views. Its complex design involves four pairs of front state cables connected to a single 275-foot-high pylon, with the bridge deck hanging directly below its point of suspension. It can hold up to 250 people at a time.
Built in 1889 by George Grant Mackay, the 460-foot Capilano Suspension Bridge near Vancouver has evolved from a simple hemp rope and cedar plank structure to a world-class adventure tourism destination. Rebuilt entirely in 1956, it now includes the Treetop Adventures canopy walk and the vertigo-inducing Cliff Walk, offering visitors various ways to experience the forest and canyon.
Located near Cañon City, Colorado, the Royal Gorge Bridge spans 955 feet above the Arkansas River. It held the record for the highest bridge in the world from 1929 to 2001 and remains the highest bridge in the United States. Built in just six months in 1929 at a cost of $350,000 (equivalent to $4.2 million today), it features 1292 wooden planks, offering a thrilling and slightly terrifying experience.
These unique suspension bridges in Meghalaya, India, are formed from the aerial roots of rubber fig trees by indigenous groups. As long as the tree remains healthy, the roots grow thicker and stronger, creating bridges that can last for hundreds of years and support up to 50 people. The longest known example is over 165 feet in length near Pineursla.
Completed in 2016, this bridge on U.S. State Route 520 became the world's longest floating bridge, spanning 710 feet across Lake Washington. It accommodates six lanes of vehicles and uses 77 concrete pontoons as its foundation, displacing water equal to its weight to remain afloat. Elevated 20 feet above the water, it is secured by 58 separate anchors, making it a marvel of engineering.
Located in Japan, the Eshima Ohashi Bridge connects Matsue and Sakaiminato over Lake Nakaumi. Nicknamed the 'rollercoaster bridge' due to its incredibly steep slope, it allows large cargo ships to pass underneath. While photos taken head-on make it appear more daunting, the gradual ascent makes it less scary for drivers. With gradients of 5.1% and 6.1% on either side, it is considered the steepest bridge in the world.
The Sidu River Bridge in China hangs over 1600 feet above a canyon floor, connecting two mountaintops. Opened in 2009, it surpassed previous records for bridge height. Spanning over 5000 feet, the bridge was so vast that builders used a rocket to string the initial pilot line across the gap. Supported by two massive H-shaped towers, it is a critical part of China's highway system, connecting previously inaccessible mountainous regions.
This seasonal bridge in Kampong Cham is built annually during the dry season using hand-assembled bamboo. When the Mekong River's waters recede, the bridge provides passage for light vehicles, but it is dismantled before the rainy season to protect it from strong currents. Despite its appearance, the bridge is incredibly sturdy; bamboo's flexibility allows it to flex under pressure, giving riders a unique, wave-like experience.
Completed in 2008, the Henderson Waves Bridge is Singapore's highest pedestrian bridge, connecting Mount Faber Park to Telok Blangah Hill Park. Stretching 899 feet and reaching 118 feet above Henderson Road, its most notable feature is its organic, wave-like design. Constructed with yellow Balau wood slats and seven undulating curved steel ribs, it integrates with green areas and provides sheltered seating alcoves for pedestrians.
The Ruyi Bridge in Zhejiang Province, China, initially circulated online with many believing it to be a fictional structure due to its fantastical appearance. Opened to the public in September 2020, it gained international attention in November 2020 after a Canadian astronaut shared a video. Designed by steel structure specialist He Yunchang, its architecture is inspired by the ruyi shape of Chinese folklore, representing strength and good fortune. This mind-bending bridge is another example of China's impressive and sometimes terrifying glass and steel bridges.