World’s highest bridge passes load test with 96 trucks ahead of opening — All you need to know

World’s Highest Bridge: China’s Huajiang Grand Canyon set to open this September

China’s Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge has successfully passed a crucial load-bearing test, bringing it one step closer to opening in September. Located in Guizhou province, the record-breaking suspension bridge is set to become both the world’s highest bridge and the largest span suspension bridge ever built in a mountainous region.

A Five-Day “Physical Examination”

The final test, described by engineers as a full-scale “physical examination,” lasted five days instead of the planned three due to adverse weather. Convoys of 18, 48, and finally 96 trucks—each weighing 35 tonnes—were driven across designated points on the bridge deck. Altogether, the vehicles carried a combined load of 3,360 metric tons, simulating extreme stress conditions.

More than 400 high-precision sensors monitored every detail, from cable tension to tower stability, to confirm the bridge’s resilience. Passing this stage clears the way for the bridge to open to traffic next month.

(Image: X/ @iloveguizhou)

An Engineering Marvel

Stretching 2,890 metres with a 1,420-metre main span, the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge towers 625 metres (2,083 feet) above the Beipan River, making it the tallest bridge in the world once operational.

Built at a cost of CNY 1.87 billion (around HKD 1.98 billion), the steel-truss suspension structure is supported by two towers standing 262 and 204 metres high. Ninety-one suspender cables hold up a 30.5-metre-wide deck, itself weighing about 22,000 tonnes. To help visualise the scale, engineers compared the structure to two massive “sky-high trees” joined by a “clothesline” cable system.

(Image: X/ @iloveguizhou)

Transforming Travel and Tourism

The bridge is part of the Liuzhi–Anlong Expressway project. Once open, it will cut travel time across the canyon from nearly two hours to just two minutes, providing a vital new transport link across Guizhou province.

Beyond infrastructure, the bridge is expected to become a global tourist attraction, drawing visitors eager to witness the dizzying heights and panoramic views. Its design blends engineering functionality with the potential to boost regional tourism and economic growth.

Mao Ning, spokesperson of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Director-General of the Department of Press, Communication and Public Diplomacy, also shared a video of the bridge, remarking: “For people and development, no mountain is too high.” She highlighted how the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge is more than an engineering feat—it is a lifeline connecting villages and improving lives in southwest China’s Guizhou province.

For people and development, no mountain’s too high.

The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, in SW China’s #Guizhou, connects villages and improves lives. @UpGuizhoupic.twitter.com/2pd5CplTW1 — Mao Ning 毛宁 (@SpoxCHN_MaoNing) August 1, 2025

A Landmark for the Future

Construction of the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge began in January 2022, and in less than three years, it is already being hailed as a landmark achievement in modern suspension bridge engineering. For the global construction industry, it serves as both a case study in technical mastery and a symbol of how ambitious infrastructure projects can redefine connectivity and tourism in mountainous regions.

With testing complete, all eyes are now on Guizhou, as the world’s tallest bridge prepares to open its lanes to history.

(Image: X/ @iloveguizhou)