Author: Maria Alfano
Are you mesmerized by bridges all around the world? I know I am. The thrill of driving over them can be a white knuckle ride. Marvel at the architectural structures that take you across valleys, through mountains, or under/over water.
The first time that a bridge made an impact on my experience was crossing the 8 miles long Bay Bridge in San Francisco. That launched my fascination with bridges.
Bridges are an architectural wonder. You think about how they were built, how people managed to reach the bottom of the ocean to support such weight, or how long can they sustain all this weight? You’re not alone. So many people travel near and far to visit bridges around the world. Are you a fan of tall bridges, covered bridges, or really long bridges? Did you know that there are bridges in far-off lands that people have built homes and villages on?
Traveler’s Guide to Spectacular Bridges In The World
The world is filled with both natural and man-made phenomena. Think the of the Grand Canyon in Colorado, or the Taj Mahal in India. The bridges in the world are a huge part of man-made structures that leave humans bewildered.
This post will take you on a journey to visit 10 spectacular bridges in the world.
Lucky Knot Bridge – Changsha, China
This footbridge designed by Next Architects is an intertwining circular style bridge. It has no beginning and no end. Resembling a rollercoaster, the low elevation circles interweave for 600 feet. There are circular passageways that allow pedestrians to get off at several intervals along the bridge. The steps are designed to make it easy for anyone of any age to be able to climb up or down. Lucky Knot is suspended 78 feet above the Dragon King Harbor River in Meixi Lake District. This height makes it accessible to boaters.
Lucky Knot was named after the Chinese craft of decorative knotting. It is painted red because red is the symbol of good fortune in China.
Laguna Garzón, Uruguay
This perfectly formed circle opened in 2015. Made of steel and concrete, the bridge replaced rafts that were originally used to carry one car at a time across the laguna in Garzón. This roundabout was created to avoid speeding and accidents as cars drive through. It is more difficult to speed when you are focused on the bending road than getting across it in record time. Two semi-circles come together to form a perfect circle. Each side of the bridge has cars traveling in opposite directions.
This bridge has created a lagoon within a lagoon where people can swim, fish, or people watch. It has a footpath making it safe for pedestrians to cross.
The Piyan Mountain Bridge, Longjing, China
If you are afraid of heights or you have a heart condition, this bridge might be one for you to stay away from. This suspension bridge is 1,726 feet long and is the longest glass-bottom bridge in the world. It stands almost 985 feet above the gorge. Winds hit up to 90 miles per hour at times making the tourist attraction quite perilous. Yet, thrill-seekers flock to this skywalk by the thousands each year.
Aiguille du Midi Bridge, France
What this bridge lacks in length, it makes up for in mesmerizing views. It is nestled in Mont Blanc of the French Alps, about 12,000 feet up in the sky. Vertigo sufferers beware. This bridge has been known to trigger many episodes in those who dare to venture across it. But, one thing is for sure, the air is crisp and clean up there. If you make it across, you can enjoy a French pastry with coffee and grab a souvenir from the gift shop.
Golden Bridge, Vietnam
The hands of God are holding up a strip of gold taken from the land. That’s what this bridge represents. The pedestrian walkway is 490 feet long and only 6 feet wide. It boasts stunning views of the rolling hillsides near Da Nang, Vietnam. This bridge opened in 2018. Tourists love it because of the serenity and it makes them feel like they are walking in the clouds.
Ponte Vecchio, Florence Italy
Ponte Vecchio literally means old bridge. And, boy oh boy is this bridge old. It was the only bridge built across the River Arno in 1218 in Florence, Italy. It was destroyed by floods and rebuilt even stronger. So strong that it managed to stay up even during WWII. Today Ponte Vecchio is a quaint little shopping pedestrian bridge with many shops and cafes. Although it is only 98 feet long, there are two lookouts where you can enjoy views of the river when you are tired of shopping.
The Confederation Bridge, Canada
The Confederation Bridge joins Prince Edward Island to the eastern Canadian mainland. Spanning almost 13,000 feet in length, this concrete structure winds its way up and down across the Abegweit Passage of the Northumberland Strait near the Atlantic Ocean. Named for the birthplace of Canadian confederation – Charlottetown, PEI. The best views of the bridge are from the lookout points at the base of the bridge right on the island. Because the side walls are so high, you don’t have much to see until you reach the apex of one of the uplifts.
Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge, Liuzhou China
This delightful covered bridge is 3 stories tall with 19 verandas that overlook the Linxi river below and the amazing countryside. It was built in 1912 with not one single nail holding the structure in place. Instead, builders dovetailed wood together making this formidable structure strong enough to withstand the test of time. This rain bridge is a mere 210 feet long and only 33 feet high. Enjoy the paintings and wood carvings in one of the 5 pavilions. Or, you can enjoy an artistic performance.
Royal Gorge Bridge, USA
The Arkansas River in Colorado is home to what is known as America’s scariest bridge. Its 1260 foot wingspan has a 956-foot drop to the river below. Built in 1929, the structure was eventually reinforced with wire cable to stabilize it. Take a leisurely stroll across this monster. In about 40 minutes you will find yourself on the other side.
Eshima Ohashi Bridge, Japan
Imagine the tallest rollercoaster you have ever seen. Think about how you felt when you got to the very top and realized you were about to drop straight down but you could not see the rails or the bottom of the ride. Now, picture you doing this in your own car on Japan’s Eshima Ohashi Bridge. This bridge was designed so that the tallest ships could pass beneath it without interrupting the flow of traffic on land or on the Nakaumi lake. Extremely steep angles will take drivers up into the clouds but drop them like a hot potato on the other side. At its peak, Eshima Ohashi Bridge is 147 feet high with the steepest slope being 6.1 percent.
In Summary
No matter what your preference there are bridges in the world that will satisfy each of your curiosities or travel bucket list items. This post gave you a look at a variety of bridges from very pretty to very scary and everything in between.
We would love to hear from you. Have you been to any of these marvelous works of art? Which one is your favorite?