Difference between revisions of "Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Footbridge"

From HighestBridges.com
Jump to navigationJump to search
Line 28: Line 28:
  
 
[[File:ZhangjiajieFromBottomView.jpg|750px|center]]
 
[[File:ZhangjiajieFromBottomView.jpg|750px|center]]
 +
 +
 +
[[File:ZhangjiajieGlassStadiumConst.jpg|750px|center]]
 +
 +
 +
[[File:ZhangjiajieGlassStadiumAerial.jpg|750px|center]]
 +
 +
 +
[[File:ZhangjiajieGlassDeckCompleteAerial.jpg|450px|center]]
  
  

Revision as of 18:59, 5 June 2016

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Footbridge
张家界大峡谷玻璃桥
World's Highest Footbridge
Sanguansixiang, Hunan, China
820 feet high / 250 meters high
1,411 foot span / 430 meter span
2016

6 Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Tourism Management Co.JPG


Opened in 2016 as the highest and largest footbridge ever constructed, the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Footbridge is also home to the highest public bungy platform in the world with a drop of 250 meters. The central suspension span is spectacular not only for having glass panels along its entire length but also for the tapered deck that is 15 meters wide at the ends of the bridge before narrowing to a width of only 6 meters in the center. Bridge architect Haim Dotan and engineer Zhi Dong Cheng pulled off this rare feat of engineering by curving the two main support cables inward, allowing the web of wire support stringers to soar outward in a V-shaped pattern that opens the bridge up to the sky like a giant butterfly. The cable support towers are 45 meters apart from each other on either side of the canyon with plans to eventually enclose them in rock giving the appearance of natural stone spires.

The Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Footbridge is one of several attractions within the privately owned park that is located just 20 minutes east of the famous Zhangjiajie National Park that inspired the look of the Avatar movies. Other attractions include a cliffwalk, mountain elevator, slide, waterfalls, caves, a smaller low level glass bridge, zip line and a boat ride.

For most visitors, the visual highlight of a trip to the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge will be viewing the gorge between their toes through glass panels 2 inches thick. But for those few who are brave enough to take their thrills to the next level, the ultimate fall awaits them on two separate platforms located several meters below the main deck. The west platform is where famous New Zealand bungy operator AJ Hackett runs the world's highest bungy jump at about 250 meters. On the east platform AJ installed a slightly less intense decelerator drop ride where guests dangling from the end of a cord are quickly lowered to the bottom of the gorge at a constant rate of around 60 kilometers per hour that is not as fast or out of control as the bungy drop but no less exhilarating.


1 Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Tourism Management Co.JPG


2 Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Tourism Management Co.JPG


ZhangjiajieGlassAerialView.jpg


ZhangjiajieFromBottomView.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlassStadiumConst.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlassStadiumAerial.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlassDeckCompleteAerial.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlassWideDrone.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlassStadium.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlassFromCable.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlassFromSideHill.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlassAerial.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlass&BridgeCables.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlass&SteelDeck.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlass&Tree.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlassAerialSide.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlassPlatformsWide.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlassDeceleratorPlatform.jpg

The east jump platform will have a decelerator fall that is less intense and more controlled then a bungy fall.


ZhangjiajieGlassBungyPlatformDrone.jpg

The west jump platform will have the World's Highest Bungy Jump of approximately 250 meters.


5 Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Tourism Management Co.jpg

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Footbridge designer Haim Dotan.


4 Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Tourism Management Co.jpg


3 Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Tourism Management Co.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlassCablesSide.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlassCablesSplit.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlassDeckConst.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlassDeckConstruction.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlassFromMountain.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlassMesh.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlassMeshView.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlassPanels.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlassUnderview.jpg


ZhangjiajieSantaClaus.jpg


ZhangjiajiePanoramaAerial.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassBridgeEarlySeptember.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassCatwalkAerial.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


131ZhangjiajieGlassBridgeByHan.jpg

Image by Han Ruoyu.


132ZhangjiajieGlassGroupByHan.jpg

Image by Han Ruoyu.


133ZhangjiajieGlassGroupByRichard.jpg

Image by Richard Scott.


136ZhangjiajieCatwalkByRichard.jpg

Image by Richard Scott.


135ZhangjiajieGlassCablesByRichard.jpg

Image by Richard Scott.


139ZhangjiajieGlassFromLorna.jpg

Bridge owners Si Qing Luo (Lorna) and Zhi Dong Chen pose on the catwalk. Image from Lorna.


140ZhangjiajieGlassSaddle&ChenByEric copy.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassBridgeEarlySeptemberCanyonView.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassBridgeEarlySeptemberCatwalk.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassBridgeEarlySeptemberSteelDeck copy.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassBridgeEarlySeptemberTop Panorama copy.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassBridgeSeptember18 copy.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGrandCanyonCatwalk.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassEastTowersAerial.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassStaging.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassStagingClose.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassWestTowersAerial.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassWestSideAerial Panorama.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


141ZhangjiajieGlassRichardFromLorna.jpg

Image by Lorna.


143ZhangjiajieGlassCatwalkEricByLorna.jpg

Image by Lorna.


144ZhangjiajieGlassByLorna.jpg

Image by Lorna.


ZhangjiajieGlassCableDownByEric.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassCatwalkLonglensByEric.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassCatwalkOnlyByEric.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassCatwalkSunnyByEric.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassHighline&MountainsByEric.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassConcreteWeights.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassLornaSunnyByEric.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassRoundTowerByEric.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassSaddletopByEric.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassTowersByEric.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassTowersLonglensByEric.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassTunnelAnchorByEric.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassAnchorSupportByEric.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassBundleFormByEric.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassTunnelAnchorWallByEric.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieGlassTunnelSkyByEric.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


ZhangjiajieTowerTopByEric.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


IP Prof Architect Haim Dotan Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge-4 18052015.jpg

Image by Haim Dotan Architects.


IP Prof Architect Haim Dotan Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge-1 18052015.jpg

Image by Haim Dotan Architects.


IP Prof Architect Haim Dotan Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge-3 18052015.jpg

Image by Haim Dotan Architects.


IP Prof Architect Haim Dotan Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge-2 18052015.jpg

Image by Haim Dotan Architects.


IP Prof Architect Haim Dotan Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge-5 18052015.jpg

Image by Haim Dotan Architects.


ZhangjiajieBungeeHole.jpg

An early rendering showing the bungee hole entrance in the center of the bridge before it was decided to have 2 separate jump platforms. Image by Haim Dotan Architects.


ZhangjiajieGlassFarAway.jpg

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Footbridge computer render.


ZhangjiajieRenderAerial.jpg

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Footbridge computer render.


ZhangjiajieRockTowers.jpg


ZhangjiajieTheaterAerial.jpg

A 2016 aerial showing the nearly completed theater on the left.


ZhangjiajieFarAway.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlassFromBelow.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlassJump.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlassCircleOpening.jpg

An early cable stayed design showing a circular jump hole in the middle. The inclination of the stays was too shallow for this design to have worked.


ZhangjiajieEarlyDesign.jpg

Another early cable stayed variation with the stay arrangement terminating into a circular pattern on the cliff walls.


ZhangjiajieCableStayedDesign.jpg

A third cable stayed design variation.


135GrandCanyonZhangjiajieFootbridgeSpot.jpg

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon bridge location view in 2013 before construction began. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


136ZhangjiajieDesigner&Eric.JPG

The bridge engineer ZhiDong Chen and his wife SiQing Luo show us the latest design of the bridge. Image by Richard Scott.


137GrandCanyonZhangjiajieView.jpg

A view of the gorge where a wood walkway allows visitors to hike along the river where there are waterfalls, caves, a small glass bridge and a boat ride. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


138GrandCanyonZhangjiajieBridgeCrossing.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


139GrandCanyonZhangjiajieGroupPhoto.jpg

The designer and some of his staff along with a news reporter from Cili County. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


140ZhangjiajieBridgeBoringsbyRichard.jpg

Many borings that were drilled on the west side plateau. Image by Richard Scott.


141ZhangjiajieStairsViewbyRichard.jpg

A series of switchback stairs descend down into the grandest part of the canyon. Image by Richard Scott.


142GrandCanyonZhangjiajieSlideDown.jpg

To make the descent even more fun, the owners built a smooth stone marble slide down the canyon. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


143GrandCanyonZhangjiajieSlidePung.jpg

White gloves allow riders to brake themselves along the the edges of the trough. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


144GrandCanyonZhangjiajieSlideChoong.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


145GrandCanyonZhangjiajieSlideGroup.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


146GrandCanyonZhangjiajieSlideBruce.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


147GrandCanyonZhangjiajieBridgeValley.jpg

A view of the bridge crossing site from the river. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


148ZhangjiajieGrandCanyonPathbyRichard.jpg

Image by Richard Scott.


149ZhangjiajieGCparkSignbyRichard.jpg

Image by Richard Scott.


150GrandCanyonZhangjiajieRiverRapids.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


151GrandCanyonZhangjiajieRiverWalkGlass.jpg

Completed in 2011, this small glass bridge was a trial run for the giant bridge that opened in 2016. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


152GrandCanyonZhangjiajieRiverFood.jpg

A food stand along the river trail. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


153GrandCanyonZhangjiajieCaveWalk.jpg

The trail continues on through a large cave. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


154ZhangjiajieGCwaterfallbyJohnMorrison.jpg

Image by John Morrison.


155ZhangjiajieGCarchbyJohnMorrison.jpg

A classic footbridge crosses over a cave creek along the trail. Image by John Morrison.


156ZhangjiajieWalkwayViewbyRichard.jpg

Image by Richard Scott.


157ZhangjiajieGClakeboatbyRichard.jpg

At the end of the trail a boat takes visitors across a huge man-made lake that was created by the park's chief engineer ZhiDong Chen. Image by Richard Scott.


158ZhangjiajieInsideBoatbyRichard.jpg

Image by Richard Scott.


160GrandCanyonZhangjiajieBoat&Pung.jpg

With a can-do spirit and an inventive imagination, Mr. ZhiDong Chen has turned the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon into a major scenic destination where unique surprises await visitors around ever corner. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


161GrandCanyonZhangjiajieGiftShop.jpg

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon gift shop. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


162GrandCanyonZhangjiajieReceptionCenter.jpg

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon reception center. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


GrandCanyonZhangjiajieMap.jpg


ZhangjiajieGlassSatelliteClose.jpg

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Footbridge satellite image from early 2015 during construction of the towers and anchorages.


ZhangjiajieGlassSatellite.jpg

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon satellite image showing the blue lake visible near the top and the glass bridge under construction near the bottom.


ZhangjiajieGlassSatellite copy.jpg

Early satellite view several years before construction began with the bridge location pasted into the image.


ZhangjiajieGlassLocationMap.jpg

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Footbridge location map.


ZhangjiajieGlassLocationMapWide.jpg