China opens world's 'highest and longest glass bottomed bridge'
The 430 metre long, six metre wide structure cost 22.5m yuan to build
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The world’s “highest and longest” glass bottomed bridge has opened to the public in central China.
The 430 metre long, six metre wide structure connects two mountains in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province.
It cost 22.5 million yuan (£2.5million) to build, according to state-run Xinhua news agency.
Designed by Israeli architect Haim Dotan, visitors are able to peer down 300 metres to the ground through the transparent floor. Ninety nine panes make up the three layers of glass, which were smashed by men with sledgehammers in a publicity stunt to demonstrate their strength prior to the opening.
In a similar spectacle, an SUV was also driven across the bridge.
However, the structure's capacity will be limited to 800 visitors per day.
Glass-bottomed bridges have been erected across China as a way to attract tourists. Architect Keith Brownlie told the BBC why they have such appeal: "It is the relationship between emotionally driven fear and the logical understanding of safety.
"These structures tread the boundary between those two contrasting senses and people like to challenge their rational mind in relation to their irrational fear."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments