Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge, Glass footbridge in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China.
The Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge is a suspension footbridge made of transparent glass that spans a deep valley in Hunan province, connecting two rock faces 300 meters above the floor below. The structure measures 430 meters in length and 6 meters in width, with a walking surface composed entirely of see-through glass panels that allow views straight down into the gorge.
Israeli architect Haim Dotan designed the construction, which opened in August 2016 as the longest glass-bottomed pedestrian bridge in the world. Since its completion, the structure has undergone several technical adjustments to safely manage daily visitor flow and maintain structural stability during changing weather conditions.
The local name Yuntiandu evokes the image of a silk path suspended among mountain peaks, and many visitors pause mid-crossing to gaze downward, reflecting on the connection between human engineering and the natural gorge below. This bridge embodies a modern interpretation of ancient Chinese concepts linking pathways through clouds to journeys between earth and sky, a theme that appears often in regional storytelling and poetry.
The bridge opens daily between 09:00 and 15:30, and visitors must book tickets in advance and present valid identification before entering the facility. The walking surface can become slippery in rain, so shoe covers are often provided at the entrance to prevent falls and protect the glass surface.
The entire construction consists of 120 individual glass panels, each measuring 5.1 centimeters in thickness and containing multiple layers for safety. Beneath the bridge lies a bungee jumping platform that drops 285 meters into the depths, making it one of the highest of its kind in Asia.
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