Tiesuo Bridge

Tiesuo Bridge
铁锁桥
Hefeng, Hubei, China
335 feet high / 102 meters high
92 foot span / 28 meter span
1704, 1970, 2018

Historically, the Tiesuo Bridge might be the most important high bridge in all of China. Originally built around 1704 AD as a chain bridge during the Wanli era, it was the first bridge in the world to exceed the Ponte Delle Torri in Spoleto, Italy at 85 meters in height. Tiesuo remained the world's highest bridge for almost a decade until 1793 when the Puente Nueveo Bridge was completed in Ronda, Spain. Wrapping itself around the small peaks that line the Loushui River, the ancient route was one of the only northern access points into the city of Hefeng in Hubei Province.

Although it was probably rebuilt several times since the 1700s, the first recorded rebuild of the chain bridge was in 1895. This may have also been the first time that steel was used in the chains. Then in 1970, the chain bridge was replaced with a 28 meter span stone arch that is 4.5 meters wide. Finally in 2018 a larger and wider concrete arch was built 10 meters above the 1970 span. The local road was also widened to handle two lanes of traffic and a visitors center and restaurant are now part of a new tourist area with parking.

Guests can also hike down to the bottom of the gorge and rent boats to float along the creek below the bridge. A small dam was built

The bridge is located 10 kilometers northeast of Hefeng on county road 26.