The Longest Bridges in China

Before 2008, Donghai Bridge of Shanghai was the longest cross-sea bridge in the world. As the first sea-crossing bridge in the China, it still holds an important position in China.

This 20-mile, six-lane bridge was opened for the public in Dec, 2005. Stretching across the East China Sea, the graceful cable-stay structure connects Shanghai to Yangshan Island, set to become China's first free-trade port (and the world's largest container port).

Donghai Bridge is designed into an S-shaped because of the safety issue. The completely Donghai Bridge improved the traffic situation in Shanghai. It provided a basic to quicken the paces of the Yangshan Harbor project and the construction of Shanghai international shipping center.


 

Sutong Chinagjiang Highway Bridge (Suzhou-Nantong Bridge)

With a total length of 19.9 miles, Sutong Chinagjiang Highway Bridge has connected Nantong and Changshu, a satellite city of Suzhou, of Jiangsu Province. With a span of 1,088 meters, it is the cable-stayed bridge with the longest main span in the world as of 2010. The same year, it received the Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement award (OCEA) from the American Society of Civil Engineers.

The whole construction mainly consists of 3 parts, the Bridge, the North Wing and the South Wing. The 8,146 meters long bridge, with a span of 1,088 meters, is the cable-stayed bridge with the longest main span in the world as of 2010, instead of the Tatara Bridge of Japan. Its two side spans are 300 meters each, and there are also four small cable spans.

The two towers of the bridge, each of them is an A-shaped reinforced concrete structure with its connecting girder between the lower sections of the legs. With a height of 300.4 meters each, they ranked the 2nd tallest in the world.

► Recommended Tours: Suzhou Tours


 

Lupu Bridge Shanghai

Connecting Luwan District and Pudong District of Shanghai, Lupu Bridge is a grand through arch bridge over the Huangpu River. With an arch of 550 meters, 100 meters above the river surface, it is the world's second longest arch bridge and steel arch bridge, only after the Chaotianmen Bridge in Chongqing.

Has a total length of 3,900-meter, this bridge was opened to public in 28th June, 2003. The main body of the bridge is 750 meters, while the main span of it is 550 meters over the Huangpu River. It is 32 meters longer than the previous record holder for the longest arch bridge, the New River Gorge Bridge in Fayetteville, West Virginia. This new record has kept for nearly 6 years before the completion of Chaotianmen Bridge in Chongqing.

 

Chaotianmen Bridge

Opened on 29 April, 2009, with a main span of 552 meters, Chaotianmen Bridge in Chongqing is the longest arch bridge in the world, which connected 3 major commercial areas of this city. It is a road-rail bridge over the Yangtze River in Chongqing, with a total length of 1,741 meters.

The continuous steel truss arch bridge with tie girders has a main span of 552 meters and a total length of 1,741 m. It carries 6 lanes in two ways and a pedestrian lane on each side on the upper deck, and dual light rails in the middle and 2 traffic lanes on each side on the lower deck.

► Recommended Tours: Chongqing Tours


 

Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge

The Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge is the first bridge that built over the Yangtze River in Nanjing. It is 6,772 meters (22,212 ft) long and has a span of 160 meters (525 ft). It can take up to 15 minutes to cross during regular traffic periods. The bridge was completed in 1968 and is the first double-decker, double-track highway and railway bridge designed and constructed by the Chinese without outside engineering assistance.

► Recommended Tours: Nanjing Tours

These longest bridges in China are just like huge dragons crossing the ocean and river. They carry different culture, history and backgrounds.