Floating bridge without pillars can still withstand the weight of 10,000 people, attracting visitors
Dubbed the “bridge of dreams”, the Shiziguan Floating Bridge impresses with its lack of support but still able to support a car weighing up to 2.8 tons. Located in the Shiziguan scenic area of Xuan’en County, southwest of Hubei Province, China, the bridge is made of wooden planks placed on the surface of the Qingjiang River with a length of 500m and a width of 4.5m.
Photo: NDTV
Without pillars, the bridge remains stable thanks to German anti-rollover technology. According to the design team, the structure is made from ultra-high-density polyethylene thermoplastic buoys, which can withstand the weight of 10,000 people standing on it at the same time. However, cars moving on the bridge are limited to a speed of 20 km/h.
Officially put into operation in 2016, the bridge has always been the top tourist attraction in the Shiziguan scenic area.
Previously, visitors could only see part of the valley by boat. Now, thanks to this special floating bridge, visitors can see the entire beauty of the scenic area.
Last year, a car carrying eight tourists crashed through the railing and plunged into the deep waters of the Thanh Giang River, killing five people. A surveillance camera recorded the car speeding across the bridge, causing strong shaking.
The Shiziguan Floating Bridge was temporarily closed after the accident. After reopening, the bridge was still well received and loved by tourists. The accident is a reminder for drivers to respect speed limits, vehicle weight limits, and pay attention to the road.