With the development of technology, modern humanity can hardly be surprised with anything, so it is more delighted with simple but interesting things. Several years ago, the Chinese began to build glass bridges, but not within cities, but in picturesque mountainous areas. One of these structures is the glass trail in Zhangzatse National Park. She and other glass sights will be discussed later.
Landmark construction history
For the construction of the bridge, the Chinese were looking for a very picturesque place that should inspire admiration and a bit of horror at the same time. For this, the Zhangzatse Canyon was chosen, from which incredible views of the sunrises and sunsets open.
However, the main criterion for the selection of this territory for construction was the fact that in the area of this area there are the famous mountains, which were filmed for the film by James Cameron "Avatar".
Note! After its construction, the Chinese glass bridge set 10 world records at once.
When was opened
The transparent floating bridge over the Zhangzatse abyss was opened on August 20, 2016, and its construction lasted for 5 years. At first, the attraction could be visited by 600 people at a time, but almost immediately this figure was increased to800 tourists.
The ceremonially new landmark was opened by the head of the city of Guangzhou, which became a national holiday not only for this district, but for the whole of China. In honor of the beginning of the functioning of the crystal attraction, the state even issued a postage stamp depicting this attraction.
Length of the bridge
The bridge is very long and sits over a huge abyss. The structure is 430 meters long and about 6 meters wide. In fact, this attraction connects two routes of the national park that are very popular among tourists.
Who built and how
The glass structure was commissioned by the government of the People's Republic of China. For this, it allocated about $ 3.5 million.
During the construction of the bridge, there were some accidents; several workers died tragically. The most beautiful mountains that are visible from observation decks now bear the names of these builders.
You May Also Like
Note! At the beginning of the bridge you can see memorial plaques erected in honor of the fallen workers. According to them, you can determine how many people were affected.
Security measures when visiting the bridge
Despite the strength of the structure of the building, before visiting the attraction, you should familiarize yourself with the safety measures:
- Selfie sticks are not allowed. This was done to preserve the property of tourists, as there were many cases when a gust of wind carried sticks along with cameras and phones down into the abyss.
- You cannot take a lot of things with you, especially heavy luggage. Any structure can withstand a certain weight. The architects of this building have calculated that only 800 people can visit the bridge at a time. You can only take light items with you; park staff will ask you to leave larger items at the entrance.
- Do not scratch the glass surface with sharp objects. The police are vigilantly watching this.
- Be calm, don't panic.
What a glass bridge looks like in China
This Chinese glass bridge is at a height of over 300 meters over the gorge, which makes it seem like it is floating in the air.
The structure includes many viewing platforms and a place from which you can make a bungee jump. It is all made of glass and has stable metal sides. They are made as discreetly as possible so that visitors have the feeling of walking through the air at a great height.
Where is the China Glass Bridge and how to get there
The longest and tallest bridge in the world is located in the Wulinyuan district of China's Hunan province in the Zhangzazze National Park.
Any tourists willing to follow the rules can visit the glass bridge in China. You can get directly to the National Park and the bridge from other cities in China by plane and train.
In the first case, it is necessary from the major cities of Beijing, Guangzhou or Shanghai to take a plane to Zhangzatse. Then, from there, take a bus to the local national park, where the attraction is located.
From major cities, you can take high-speed trains to Zhangzatse. Then from there get to the bridge by taxi or bus.
For reference! The most convenient, but costly way, upon arrival in Zhangzatse, is to rent a car for travel.
You May Also Like
How to visit the bridge in Zhangjiajie
To walk along the glass bridge, you will have to do the following:
- Book in advance a pass to the attraction. Directly the day before the visit, this should not be done, since there are a lot of people who want to walk through the structure and there may not be tickets (it is almost impossible to outbid them).
- Arrive early, since the last change of visit ends at 3 o'clock, and a strictly defined number of people are allowed in at a time.
- Take only necessary light things with you.
- See your doctor for heart problems.
To visit the glass trail, you can buy a ticket at the bus station in Zhangzatse. Buses will take tourists to the Grand Canyon and provide tour guides. Transport is equipped with everything you need, including good air conditioning.
Attention! In advance, it will be necessary to order or buy a special tourist pass-ticket to the Zhangzazze National Park, through which the tourist can also visit the "crystal heavenly trail of China."
Draws for tourists
The Chinese glass bridge has an unusual property of "cracking". This is a kind of prank for tourists.
Sometimes, when there are people on the structure, the glass floor underfoot makes a sharp crunch and cracks appear on it. People, of course, and without this being in a little excitement and fright, are even more horrified and rush to the side rails.
In fact, special screens are pre-installed in the floor, which create the effect of broken glass. As soon as a person steps on it, cracks appear. The bridge is very stable and much stronger in strength than concrete, as it consists of dense glass 15 centimeters thick.
How to Walk the Glass Bridge
If you are going for a walk along the glass structure, you should prepare yourself emotionally in advance. There is no need to push and run around the structure, frighten other people. It is best to behave calmly, walk at a moderate pace and not disturb the rest of the tourists.
Some facts about the attraction
For the short time of the existence of the bridge, several facts and myths have already appeared:
- The Zhangjiajie "Air Trail" is located in the UNESCO-protected territory of the national park of the canyon of the same name.
- Until 2017, the structure was the longest and highest glass path in the world.
- To get to the aerial attraction, you need to climb Mount Huanshi by 3,800 steps.
- Many tourists point out that the glass structure is shaking, which can be felt while walking. This is done specifically to cushion and relieve stress on the main beams of the structure.
Other platforms and glass bridges of the Middle Kingdom
Chinese glass bridges in the mountains have become a tourist feature of this country.In addition to the structure in Zhangzatse Park, there are other similar sights with which the Celestial Empire can surprise.
Glass Bridge in Sanya, Hainan - where is it and how to get there
Another similar well-known building is located in the Hainan province, it was nicknamed "The Bridge of the Brave". The length is 300 meters, and it is located at an altitude of 180 meters.
Note! At first it was a wooden pedestrian bridge, which, due to the lack of interest of tourists, was decided to be reconstructed and made of glass.
Glass Bridge in Yangtze
It is also called the "New Glass Bridge", as it was built quite recently. Locals call it the "Wriggling Dragon" as the structure wraps around Tianmen Mountain. The length of the structure is about 100 metersand the width is only 1.5 meters.
A very beautiful view of the surrounding landscape opens from the structure, you can often observe the clouds that spread at the same height as the structure.
Cracking Glass Bridge in China - Tianmenshan National Reserve
The famous bridge that has the effect of "cracking" is located at the Taihanshan Mountain. The structure is located at an altitude of 1.2 kilometers.
In 2012, the building really cracked, so the authorities urgently had to close the attraction and start repair work.
The largest glass bridge in China
The "Crystal Bridge" in Zhangzatse did not remain the longest and tallest glass structure for a long time.
At the end of 2017, China itself broke its record by building a new bridge, reaching a length of 500 meters, but it is still inferior in height and width to the previous glass attraction.
Experienced tourist tips
Tourists who frequent the attraction love to share the tips they've learned from their experiences. Here are some of them:
- You won't be able to buy a ticket on the spot, so you need to book it in advance.
- You need to order a pass for a specific shift: morning, afternoon or evening. It is best to choose morning or noon.
- In advance, before visiting, you need to know the weather, since in the rain or snow, walking on a glass surface is inconvenient, unsafe and of little interest.
- It is better to immediately deposit all unnecessary things for storage so that they do not get in the way.
- You need to take sunglasses and a raincoat with you, as well as smear well with sunscreen.
Important! People with mental illness should not visit the attraction.
The glass "sky" bridge in China will surprise even the most skeptical people. Moreover, tourists are amazed by the views that open from the height of the building. Despite its fragility, the structure has very good stability and can withstand a huge number of people.
