No Pillars, Just Water: China’s Floating Bridge Draws Tourists

China has built an unusual bridge that floats on a river instead of standing on pillars. The Shiziguan Floating Bridge, in Hubei Province, is about 500 metres long and 4.5 metres wide. It connects two villages across the Qingjiang River.
Building a regular bridge here was difficult because the valley is narrow, the river is deep, and the land around it is steep and forested. Bringing big machines or building tall pillars was almost impossible. Engineers chose a floating bridge made of plastic pontoons that rest on the water and are linked together.

The bridge opened in 2016 and allows small vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists to cross. Cars up to 2.8 tonnes (about the weight of a small van) can drive on it. Both vehicles and pedestrians are using the bridge, which is quite narrow and mostly used for one-way commuting.

Cars must travel slowly, under 20 km/h, to avoid making waves. While the bridge saves time for the locals, it offers the thrill of driving right over water for tourists who are flocking to the place for this unique experience. - TWL Bureau