Wanlong Bridge

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Wanlong Bridge
湾龙桥
Fa’er Bouyei, Guizhou, China
361 feet high / 110 meters high
82 foot span / 25 meter span
2013

WanglongbaoArch&Footbridge.jpg


Wanlong Bridge is so small and inconsequential when compared to the 4 monstrous beam bridges of the nearby Shuipan expressway that most travelers will never even notice it on their long journeys between Shuicheng and Panxian Counties. But if you have the time and make the effort to hike down into the Wanglongbao gorge you will be rewarded with a fantasy scene straight out of a fairytale with a delightful white arch perched above an impossibly narrow crevasse that seems bottomless.

The new crossing was built to replace an older steel ropeway that ferried locals one or two at a time in a small and rickety basket that was dangerous for the local villagers who had no other way to cross the canyon.

The Wanlong Bridge also allows for some spectacular views of the 208 meter high Wanglongbao beam bridge several hundred meters downstream. Just two kilometers north of Wanglongbao is the massive Beipanjiang Bridge Shuipan expressway with the longest beam span ever attempted on a high level bridge with a distance of 290 meters between piers. Two kilometers south of Wanglongbao is the towering Laoyingyan beam bridge with 2 spans of 160 meters. The famous Beipanjiang Railway Bridge Shuibai crosses under the highway just 1 kilometer south of the Wanglongbao Bridge and makes for easy access for rail fans who want to check out the 275 meter high arch bridge. This is one of only 2 places in the world where there are 6 bridges over 100 meters high in such close proximity to each other. The 4 giant beam bridges on the Shuicheng expressway are located at kilometers 31, 33, 35 and 37.


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Wanglongbao canyon looking west. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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The Wanlong arch bridge as seen from the top of the Wanglongbao Bridge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


WanglongbaoArch&Crevasse.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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The temporary Wanlong Footbridge was 38 meters long with a clear span of 31 meters. The main arch rib follows a catenary curve with a tighter radius of curvature as it rises from the springings to the crown. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


WanlongUno Panorama.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


WanglongbaoArch&Footbridge.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


WanlongArch&Longwangbao.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


WanlongDragon.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


WanlongDropToCreek.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


WanlongFoliage.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


WanlongRailingPatterns.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


WanlongDragon.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


WanlongRailing.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


WanlongSouthSideWall.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


WanlongFootbridgeEndView.jpg

The shorter foreground span was 7 meters while the longer main span was 31 meters. The deck was 111 meters above the creek. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


WanlongFootbridgeEnd.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


WanlongFootbridgeHillSign.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


WanlongFootbridgeFoliage.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com



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There were reportedly two different ropeways acrosss the Wanglongbao gorge. At least one of the two is no longer operational since the Wanlong arch bridge opened in 2013.


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Beipanjiang River valley northeast of the Wanglongbao Bridge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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View of the deep canyon from the Wanglongbao expressway bridge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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One of the ropeways across the Wanglongbao canyon. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Wanlong and Wanglongbao Bridges satellite image.


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A satellite view showing the Shuibai Railway and Shuipan expressway that intertwine within the deep Beipanjiang gorge. This is one of only 2 places in the world to have 6 bridges over 100 meters high in such close proximity to eachother.


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Wanlong Bridge location map.