China now has 180 metre-high glass suspension bridge spanning a 300-metre canyon

China now has a high-altitude glass suspension bridge open to public at the Shiniuzhai National Geological Park in the central Hunan province. The bridge, called “Haohan Qiao” in Chinese, spans a 300-metre canyon and is 180 metres above ground.

Tourists have started rushing to the bridge which apparently sways in the wind at times while they cross it. The bridge is capable of holding about 800 people simultaneously. It was previously made of wood with some glass panels added in 2014. However, the authorities decided to replace the wooden floor entirely with glass.

According to Stuff.co.nz, people were previously told they needed “nerves of steel” to walk through the wooden structure. Now with the glass flooring which is only 24 mm thick, crossing the bridge may be considered as one of the most daring things to do for fun. Nevertheless, tourists should be more relieved to know that the glass used for the bridge flooring is 25 times stronger than normal glass.

Israeli architect Haim Dotan designed the glass flooring which required 11 workers to work for 12 hours a day. There are plans to convert the bridge into world’s highest bungee jumping spot.

According to one of the workers who have built the glass flooring, Haohan Qiao is absolutely safe for tourists. “The bridge we build will stand firm even if tourists are jumping on it," the CNN quoted the worker as saying. "The steel frame used to support and encase the glass bridge is also very strong and densely built, so even if a glass is broken, travellers won't fall through."

Another glass bridge is scheduled to open in the Hunan province later in 2015. The bridge will be in the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon area, around 300 km northwest of Shiniuzhai.

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