My "Engineer's Lens" Published in IEM Bulletin JURUTERA in July 2020

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Footbridge

by Ir Lau Tai Onn

The Grand Canyon Glass Footbridge at Zhangjiajie National Park, Hunan Province, China is said to be the world’s tallest (260m or 85 storeys high) and longest (430 m) pedestrian suspension bridge.  Needless to say, it is a hotspot destination tha attracts millions of visitors each year.

The bridge has a metal frame with more than 120 glass panels made of 3-layered, 50mm thick tempered glass. The deck is 15m wide at both ends of the bridge, tapering to 60m in the centre. The two main support cables curve inwards and the stringers soar outwards in a V-shaped pattern, opening the bridge up to the sky like a giant butterfly. The support pillars for the suspension cables are spaced at 45m apart on either side of the canyon and are encased in rock, making them look like natural stone spires.

The glass footbridge, completed in June, 2016, was designed by internationally renowned architect Professor Haim Dotan.  The structural engineering firm was China Railway Major Bridge Reconnaissance & Design Institute Co. Ltd (BRDI).

I visited the glass bridge in September, 2019 and found the spectacular view of the gorge through the glass panels below my toes an exciting experience.