Where is the glass bridge in china. Glass bridge in China: Journey along the “air path. Parameters of the Grand Canyon Bridge
IN Lately The Chinese love to build glass. In 2016, several walking trails over the abyss opened, as well as a similar bridge, but of a shorter length and size. Cracks formed on one of the trails two weeks later.
Chinese tourists are not afraid of anything, and crowds of people have already appeared on the new attraction. Before the opening, it was tested with a sledgehammer for strength, which means that the bridge should not collapse: you can risk your life to walk on it and take stunning selfies.
Wang Ming, one of the visitors: I wanted some inspiration. I'm not sick - the bridge seems safe!
The bridge is located in the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in the urban district of the same name, in Hunan province. This is the same park with sandstone pillars that inspired James Cameron to film Avatar.
The bridge is 430 meters long, six wide, made of 99 glass panels and hangs over a precipice at a level of 290 meters. Construction cost $3.4 million. The author of the project, Israeli architect Haimn Dotan, initially refused the order.
Chaim: The customer asked me: “What do you think if we build a bridge from here to here? I answered: "No." He looked at me and said, “Why? What are you even talking about?" I asked again: “Why the bridge? It is very beautiful in here. [He'll ruin the look]." The customer kept pushing, and I agreed: “Okay, let's build a bridge, but on one condition. I want it to be made of glass and not be seen.
The bridge had to be six meters wider: the customer wanted to hold fashion shows on it, as well as organize bungee jumps. The white cables holding the structures in the air should also be more massive.
Chaim insisted on his own: No way. The bridge must be invisible.
The project took three years to complete. The bridge was made light and strong. The design is able to withstand wind gusts up to 100 m/s. The design engineers were satisfied.
Chaim: They told me that the bridge was as thin as a feather and as light as a breath of air. My God, can you imagine techies describing a bridge like that?!
On the opening day, 8,000 tourists immediately came to the park to test the strength of the bridge. People ran and jumped on the bridge, sat on the twine and did other acrobatic stunts. And, of course, selfies.
IN national park Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province, completed construction of the world's longest glass bridge. The structure is reportedly very strong and can hold up to 800 people. /website/
The bridge, located at a height of 300 meters above the ground, connects the two sides grand canyon. The glass structure is 430 meters long and six meters wide. According to the builders, the glass covering of the bridge has passed about 100 safety tests. Tests were also carried out for resistance to temperature changes and buildup in the wind.
glass bridge on the gorge. Photo: JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images
The project was developed by the Israeli architectural firm Haim Dotan. “Thanks to its glass base, the Zhangjiajie Bridge will look like a real invisible road leading into the clouds,” the designers said about the construction.
This is not the first glass bridge in the area. In September last year, another glass bridge opened in Zhangjiajie Park, dubbed the Courageous People's Bridge. Suspended structure 300 meters long is located between two cliffs at a height of 180 meters.
Previously, the bridge was wooden, but to attract tourists, they decided to make it entirely of glass. Back in 2014, the park management conducted an experiment, replacing a small part of the bridge with glass. Everyone liked the result of the experiment, so the administration decided to change the entire bridge.
According to engineers, 24 mm thick glass is absolutely safe. Tourists can even jump on it if they dare. However, it is often passed through with closed eyes or on all fours. Many try not to look down, although you can admire the picturesque view of the villages below.
Are glass bridges safe?
There is another glass bridge in Zhangjiajie Park. It is located on the sheer rock of Tianmen. True, it does not swing over the gorge, but is attached to the mountain, but this does not make the bridge any less terrible. A transparent structure called the "air path" invites tourists to admire the views of the park from a height of 1,430 meters. This height allows you to look at some mountains from above.
In October last year, this bridge cracked, which scared the tourists very much. The U-shaped glass bridge could not withstand the impact of a metal thermos that fell from the hands of one of the visitors. Fortunately, no one was hurt and the tourists were evacuated.
Bridge officials confirmed that “under the influence of external force Several cracks appeared on the structure. However, they assured that only one of the three layers of glass cracked, so there was no danger to people.
Glass bridges in other countries
lovers thrill can admire the Grand Canyon US state Arizona from the observation deck known as the "sky trail". glass platform designed by architect Mark Ross Johnson in 2009.
The bridge is made in the form of an arc that extends beyond the rocks by 20 meters. Here, tourists can fully feel like they are hovering over the abyss, since the completely transparent structure is located at an altitude of more than 1.2 kilometers. Both the railing and the floor of the bridge are made entirely of glass with a high degree of transparency.
There is an area with a glass floor on Tower Bridge in central London. A breathtaking panorama of the English capital can be seen if you climb the pedestrian part of the bridge to a height of 44 meters. Compared to bridges located in the mountains, Tower Bridge is not scary at all.
There are no such structures in Russia yet, but Moscow has a chance to acquire its own “floating bridge” in the future. There is a glass building over the Moscow River in the project of the Zaryadye park. According to the plan, it should connect the park with the embankment. You can get to it through an underground passage.
The height of the building will be 140 meters. From the bridge you will have a view of the Kremlin, the park and central embankments. According to the project managers, the construction of the bridge will begin this year. The opening of Zaryadye Park itself is planned for next year.
Would you install an application for reading epochtimes articles on your phone?
Modern architectural possibilities allow you to create amazing buildings. One of them is the “China Sky Path”, which has been captivating the minds of its visitors for several years in a row!
Where is the glass bridge in China?
The world's longest glass bridge is located in picturesque place- Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon. This place for construction was not chosen by chance. The canyon will be able to surprise all tourists with incredible sunset and sunrise views. The height of the bridge at 300 meters can be seen through the transparent floor of the architectural wonder! This creates an optical illusion, as if you are walking on air - taking the first step can be very difficult and scary.
Zhangjiajie District Wulingyuan (zhangjiajie) - Avatar movie in the real world. This mountainous area will remind you of landscapes from the fantastic, fictional planet "Pandora", which exists in the movie universe of the film "Avatar".
From the glass bridge you can observe the nearby nature reserves and the Tianmen mountain system. These areas are among the first nature reserves in the world, which will allow tourists to enjoy amazing nature, preserved from the early periods of the formation of the state of China.
Description of glass bridge
Knowing how amazing and diverse China can be, a glass bridge in the mountains does not seem to be something amazing at all, but there is something to be surprised at:
- Transparent bridge height: 300 meters;
It has comfortable viewing platforms and places for extreme look rest (you can jump from it with bungee jumping).
- Passage width: 6 meters.
Such a width does not introduce difficulties when moving along the bridge, and creates the feeling of the absence of sides - you just walk "on air" and nothing more.
"The glass sky of China" - this is sometimes called this architectural building century. This name is associated with the mythology of China. In Chinese myths, the sky is a symbol of divinity and power. The one who walks in the sky has incredible magical power.
When was it opened?
The "Glass Ride" (as it is sometimes called by the Chinese) was opened on August 20, 2016. At first, the bridge was opened in test mode - no more than 600 tourists a day and by pre-booking a ticket, but later - this measure was canceled and the bridge operates in standard mode (800 tourists per visit).
The construction took over 5 years. Several workers died during construction. Several mountains are named after them (previously they had no name), which are visible from the observation deck. Climbing the stairs to the bridge, you can find out the biographies of these workers - they are written on special memorial tablets. The stairs have comfortable handrails and a container with first aid supplies. medical care, which is located every 300 meters.
At the opening ceremony, the head of the Zhangjiajie city district solemnly cut the ribbon - this event has become national holiday for the whole country, and in Beijing they issued a nominal postage stamp in honor of the completion of construction.
Bridge length
The length is:
- 430 meters.
Almost half a kilometer in the Zhangjiajie area, a glass bridge allows you to connect two hiking trails. In itself, walking on it is an attraction that causes surprise and an unusual feeling of freedom.
Along the entire length, tourists can take pictures of themselves "floating in the air" over the abyss.
Who built it and how?
Chilling soul and eye suspension bridge was built to order Chinese government. The cost of the order amounted to 3.4 million dollars. The completed project set 10 world records at once!
The beginning of construction began with the installation of special (architectural) support pillars, which visually look very light - this was specially conceived by the architects. This decision allowed once again to emphasize the effect of "hovering above the ground" for tourists.
The transparent bridge has a base in the form of a steel frame. 120 walking glass panels were mounted on this frame (instead of traditional asphalt). The material for the manufacture of such panels can only be called "glass" conditionally - the material is much stronger, but has a similar transparency to glass.
However, the glass bridge in China is cracking. The fact is that recently several screens were installed in it, which imitate glass. When passing through them, holographic cracks form under the feet of tourists and a pre-recorded sound of broken glass is heard. The guide may not warn his "wards" about this, which causes real, genuine emotions of shock, but this is only part of the attraction to entertain visitors. In order for a bridge to really crack - human effort is not enough for it to crack - (if you set yourself such a task) you need to use special tools.
The thickness of the durable transparent coating of the bridge is 15 centimeters and is not inferior in strength to concrete. Walking on such a surface over the abyss is allowed.
Architecturally, the "heavenly" of the creation is emphasized by the decorative and functional suspension elements of the steel frame, which makes it unusual appearance, and further adds to the strength of the entire structure.
Security measures
The safety measures on a glass bridge are the same as on a regular bridge, with a few exceptions:
- It is forbidden to use selfie sticks;
This precautionary measure is caused by several cases of loss of them. tourists, for beautiful photos, protruded them beyond the sides, a gusty wind carried away such “photo tools” from their owners under the bridge.
- Take heavy luggage with you;
Before passing, the weight of your luggage will be weighed on special scales and asked to lay out heavy items. After graduation tourist travel Items are returned to their owners. Also, this is due to the fact that in 2015 a missed thermos filled with liquid could make a microcrack at the junction of two panels. Technically, it was not really a crack, but only a detachment of one of the composite parts of the panel, which did not pose a threat to the life of visitors. However, a decision was made to ban heavy hand luggage.
- You can't walk with a cane.
The tips of the reeds can become clogged with small stones. The strength of such stones (quartz) is extremely high - they can leave scuffs and scratches.
How to get to the architectural masterpiece?
You can get there in several ways and in several stages - these are:
- By plane:
Chinese Airlines carry out regular air flights from the cities: Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Xi'an, Changsha, Shenyang, Qingdao.
- By train;
From any city there are trains of the usual type. It is recommended, for a faster journey, to calculate your route in such a way as to cover the maximum distance in high-speed train, and then - change to a regular one - it's faster.
On bus station Zhangjiajie purchase a ticket to the Grand Canyon. Buses are equipped with air conditioning and tourist programs from guides.
Buy a ticket at the box office or present a pre-purchased ticket for admission to tourist area, which includes "heavenly sky".
Myths and facts about attractions
- The Chinese authorities are hiding the number of people who fell off the bridge.
It can not be true. Since the longest bridge in the world is the pride of the Chinese nation, all tourists are counted. This was done in order to increase security and identify (at an early stage) possible problems in construction. Any interested journalist, exercising the journalist's right to information, can obtain this data at the first request to the authorities.
- "China Airway" trembles when walking.
It's true. This was done intentionally to reduce the load on the steel frame. Some note that it is from this that the “terrible” suspension bridge cracks, but this is not entirely accurate. Jitter - cushioning that allows the bridge to be more resistant to winds and possible change geological features terrain (distance between supports).
Several glass pedestrian bridges have been built in the city, which are of great interest to tourists and local residents. They give a delightful feeling when crossing the abyss and allow the pedestrian to test himself for courage and courage.
Glass bridges are a national hobby of the Chinese. Nowhere in the world there are so many such structures as in China. They are very popular, and their number is increasing exponentially every year.
These bridges are trending in China today. Their construction is inexpensive, and the effect of the influx of tourists quickly pays off the investment. No less in demand here glass trails over steep cliffs and viewing platforms with glass floors.
glass bridges
1) . It is located at an altitude of about 300 m, has a length of more than 400 m and can simultaneously withstand up to eight hundred people.
The glass cover of the lower part of the structure has been subjected to a huge number of pedestrian safety tests, incl. for resistance to high and low temperatures environment, their sharp drops, to strong wind etc.
Because of the glass floor, the bridge looks invisible, and pedestrians get the feeling that they are walking on air, floating in the clouds. But such a journey is beyond the power of children and people suffering from actophobia - fear of heights. They may have a nervous attack.
2) The second bridge in Hunan can be found in Zhangjiajie Park. It is called the Bridge of the Brave. It has a length of about 300 m and hangs between two hills at a height of about 180 m.
Previously, the bridge was made of wood, but gradually the interest of tourists and vacationers in the park began to fade, and a modern decision was made: to make it out of glass. First, they conducted an experiment: they covered a small part with glass.
Visitors to the park liked to walk high above the ground in the clouds, then it was decided to make all glass this footbridge. Since then, it has been wildly popular.
Experts are sure that the 6 cm thick glass floor is completely safe, you can jump on it. But few people dare to take such actions. The vast majority of pedestrians move across the bridge with their eyes closed or crawling.
3) Cracking glass bridge in China near Mount Taihanshan is located at an altitude of almost 1,200 meters. In fact, the appearance of "cracks" is an attraction or a special effect, a way to once again test the courage of pedestrians.
It is important to note that an unprepared pedestrian can simply have a myocardial infarction from such a special effect. Local authorities believe that this is just a game "provocation", but continue to be criticized among the population.
But in 2015, the special effect glass actually started cracking and was removed and repaired. But after the repair, they put in “cracking” glass, explaining this by the great popularity of the attraction among the audience.
4) A new glass bridge appears in southern China, only the most courageous and reckless people will be able to pass through it. It runs around a sheer cliff at an altitude of more than 1,500 meters, called the "Wriggling Dragon" and leads to Mount Tianmen.
The length of the bridge is more than 100 meters, it is narrow - about 1.5 meters. Passing through it, pedestrians see pictures surrounding nature of extraordinary beauty: the valley below and the mountains floating past the cloud.
Glass lookouts and trails
1) Near Beijing is the famous Shilin forest. This forest is equipped with a platform with a glass floor. It has an area of more than 400 km. m, a height of more than 400 m and gives great review on Shilin: huge stones mixed with trees.
The bridge is strong enough, there should not be any defects, it is able to withstand even a high temperature of 60 °. Does not wobble or stagger in wind speeds of 220 kilometers per hour.
The bridge is treated with care, everyone who wants to walk on it puts on shoe covers. And for people who really want to admire the beauty of the valley, but are afraid to go alone, there is a special staff that accompanies the whole way - from one peak to another.
True, the Chinese themselves are already accustomed to such bridges. The very first glass bridge was built on Tianmen Mountain. The length of courage is only 61 meters. But when you find out at what height the bridge is located, you are unlikely to agree to feel all the delights of human creation. The bridge flaunts at an altitude of 1220 meters. There are always enough people who want to, but there are more of those who are instilled with fear of heights. Many people are terrified of heights, I wonder what it was like for the builders. We hope that their work is well compensated.
You won't believe it, but not so long ago a guide led tourist group along the bridge, when suddenly cracks began to appear under his feet with a creaking sound.
The man fell to the floor and started screaming, he was scared. Interestingly, a happy, calm man walks towards him and casts an incomprehensible glance at the guide. He is not aware of what happened.
In the video you can see what is happening for yourself. People were so excited, and there were heated discussions on the net later. To reassure people, the East Taihanshan County government told the media that these were just special effects. This is such a PR move in order to a large number of tourists visited such a frightening attraction.
