2013 High Bridge Trip Photo Album/Week 3
2013 China High Bridge Trip Photo Album
Guizhou and Yunnan Provinces
The special spans visited during this week included Balinghe, Dimuhe, Beipanjiang 2003, Beipanjiang 2009, Beipanjiang High Speed Railway, Beipanjiang 2016, Liuchonghe, Xixi, Luojiaohe, Yanjinhe, Liuguanghe and Wujiang, Hutiaohe and Zhuchanghe Bridges. We also toured the famous Zunyi conference building.
There was no better way to kick off the 3rd week then our tour of Balinghe Bridge, the longest and highest in Guizhou Province. A group of CCTV producers met us at the bridge to talk about the possibility of doing a world record bungee jump from the bridge for an episode of the China Guinness TV show. Although the bungee attempt has been put on hold we had a pleasant afternoon with Guizhou highway leader Zhou Ping and producers Wang Wei, Pia and .Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Bruce speaks with Zhou Ping and Pia. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Pia and Zhou Ping enjoy the view from the 370 meter high Balinghe Bridge. Zhou Ping is one of the central leaders overseeing several billion dollars of new highway construction in Liupanshui County, Guizhou. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
We were all amazed by the cavernous Balinghe truss which is 10 meters deep. Image by Richard Scott.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Due for completion in 2014 the new Balinghe visitors center will allow tourists to take an elevator up the east tower for a walk inside the giant truss. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The west end of the Balinghe Bridge truss. Image by Richard Scott.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The CCTV girl poses in front of the 1088 meter main span of Balinghe. Image by Bruce Lee.
Lunch near the famou Huangguoshu waterfalls. Image by Richard Scott.
I saved the Maotai wine bottle. Maotai is the most famous liquor in China and is the only alcoholic beverage presented as an official gift by Chinese embassies in foreign countries and regions. The expensive drink is produced in Renhuai, a city in Guizhou we visited several days later in the trip. Image by Richard Scott.
A statue on the pathway leading to the Huangguoshu waterfalls. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Reported to be the largest waterfall in China, the Huangguoshu falls measure 78 meters tall by 101 meters wide. Image by Richard Scott.
There are many walkways and stairs and even a footbridge within the Huangguoshou gorge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
A pathway winds around the canyon to the backside of the falls. Image by Richard Scott.
A constant mist keeps the hillside foliage thick and green. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
There is a beautiful cave hidden behind the falls. Image by Bruce Lee.
A second set of falls drop another 5 meters. Image by Bruce Lee.
This suspension footbridge allows guests to cross back over the river. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Highway leader Zhou Ping brought us all to a special restaurant where the food is cooked at the table. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Morrison.
Our second big tour of Guizhou Province was across the gargantuan Dimuhe footbridge that was constructed to allow workers to access the north slope where construction is underway on the new G56 Dimuhe suspension bridge. The chicken-wire span is 300 meters above the reservoir surface and has a main span of 510 meters - even longer then the Brooklyn Bridge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
We had a little rain at the beginning of the walk but luckily it stopped a few minutes later. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Dimuhe footbridge actually crosses a shallow reservoir created from a dam 2.5 kilometers downstream of the crossing. Image by Bruce Lee.
A crane can be seen where the south tower of the Dimuhe suspension bridge is under construction. The 4-lane suspension truss span of 538 meters will cross more then 300 meters above the reservoir. Expect an opening in early 2016. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Richard Scott.
A view of the footbridge from the north slope. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Dimuhe Bridge worker.
The Sancha River 300 meters below Bruce's feet. Image by Bruce Lee.
The Dimuhe footbridge as seen from the south tower of the highway suspension bridge. Image by John Morrison.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Dimuhe north slope footbridge anchorage. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The foundation of the Southwest Dimuhe tower was nearly complete. Image by John Morrison.
The Dimuhe Bridge headquarters welcomed us for lunch and a video presentation. Image by Richard Scott.
The north tower is nearly twice as tall as the south tower. Image by CCCC.
Image by CCCC.
Image by CCCC.
An accident along the road from Dimuhe Bridge to Liupanshui City. Image by John Morrison.
Our second bridge tour of the day was at the tower site construction of the new Beipanjiang 2016 cable stayed bridge that will carry the G56 expressway more then 500 meters above the Beipan River. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The massive east tower will rise to 269 meters making Beipanjiang 2016 Bridge the world's 10th tallest bridge as well as the world's highest bridge of any kind ever built. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
A view of the east tower construction area across the canyon in Yunnan Province. The main span of 720 meters will rank it among the world's 15 longest cable stayed structures and first among truss deck cable stayed bridges. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The depth of the Beipan River gorge is hard to see from the upper slopes. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Beipanjiang 2003 suspension bridge was once the highest in the world and still ranks among the most scenic with a thin 1.5 meter deck crossing 366 meters above the original level of the Beipan River. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
There is always a group of tourists visiting the 2-lane bridge which has walkways on both sides. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
A drainage hole in the road deck. Image by Richard Scott.
A view of the river gorge looking south. Water from the Beipan flows south, eventually emptying into the South China Sea near Macau and Hong Kong. Image by Richard Scott.
A steel wind barrier covers the edge of the concrete deck. Image by John Morrison.
The concrete underside of the Beipanjiang 2003 Bridge. Image by Richard Scott.
The Beipanjiang 2009 Bridge is the 3rd of 4 bridges we visited that cross high above the Beipanjing River. Image by Richard Scott.
The 4-lane bridge has a span of 636 meters and carries the G60 expressway 318 meters above a dry region of the Beipanjiang River. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Our fourth and final Beipanjiang Bridge visit was to the spectacular new Beipanjiang High Speed Railway Bridge. The concrete arch will be the largest of its type in the world with a clear span of 445 meters. The twin track rail line will cross 283 meters above the river making it the highest railway bridge on earth! Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
A new pipeline bridge across the Bei Pan River. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
A highline more then 300 meters above the canyon is used to lower the arch sections into place. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Steel tube truss staging area. Image by Richard Scott.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Several of the steel arch truss pieces were placed in the river, awaiting their turn to be lifted into place. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
A shed protects a local road along the western edge of the river canyon. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The truss staging platform on the edge of the east slope. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Cantenary suspension bridges like the one shown above are very rare outside of China so we decided to drive over this one and take a closer look. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The flexible deck is composed of dozens of bolted steel plates. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
After a rainy drive north of Zhijin City we stopped at this restaurant along national road 209. Lee told us it was a historic stop as the Red Army had also eaten there. We had a fun discussion of politics in China past and present. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Opening in 2013, the giant Sunziyan Bridge carries the Zhijin-Qianxi expressway north across a gorge more then 150 meters deep. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
One of the world's 10 highest bridges, the Liuchonghe Bridge has a central cable stayed span of 438 meters supported on towers 190 and 157.6 meters tall. Image by Bruce Lee.
Bruce checks out some of the cable dampeners of the Liuchonghe Bridge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
A view looking more then 330 meters down to the Liuchong River. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Unlike many other expressway bridges in western China, Liuchonghe was built with no safety lanes. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
You often pay a price trying to get the ultimate bridge photo! Image by Bruce Lee.
One of two high suspension bridges along the old Guibi highway between Guiyang and Bijie, the Xixi suspension bridge opened in 2001 with a thin 1.5 meter concrete deck. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Xixi Bridge has a main span of 338 meters. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The east tower of Xixi Bridge is much taller then the west tower. Image by John Morrison.
The Guibi highway is often backed up with traffic from slower moving trucks that cannot easily be passed. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Xixi Bridge crosses over a reservoir from a downstream dam. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Guibi highway is one of the most dangerous in China. Next to the Luojiaohe Bridge there are many car wrecks from head on collisions. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Luojiaohe Bridge is similar to Xixi but with a slightly smaller span length of 268 meters. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Luojiaohe canyon looking north from the bridge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
All the young people in China seems to have a cell phone. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
A monument to scold those who walk across the bridge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
China has so many single tower cables stayed bridges it is hard to tell them apart. This one is in in Bijie City. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Downtown Bijie City. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The owner of a Bijie car wash lives inside of this makeshift storage container and bus roof. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Bruce relaxes inside the kitchen and living room. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
A new beam bridge carries the G56 more then 150 meters above the Luojiaohe canyon. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The massive Jinsha Viaduct is the largest bridge on the G56 Between Bijie and Zunyi. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Pingzishang beam bridge is located just a few kilometers south of Renhuai on the new expressway. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Known mainly as the home of the Maotai liquor factory, Renhuai is one of the larges cities in Guizhou. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
A giant observation tower shaped like a Maotai container overlooks the Yanjinhe River gorge. Image by Richard Scott.
The Yanjinhe River gorge with the now closed truss arch bridge in the upper left. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
This wall was built sometime after 2011 to completely block any motorbike or pedestrian traffic from crossing the damaged bridge. A new beam bridge was built in 2007 to bypass the arch. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
A couple poses for Richard in front of the original gateway entrance to the arch bridge. Image by Richard Scott.
The abandoned truss arch sits just a couple hundred meters behind a curved arch dam. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The 2007 Yanjinhe beam bridge is almost obscured in the fog. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Yanjinhe beam bridge has a central main span of 198 meters. Image by Richard Scott.
Just upstream of the 2007 beam bridge is the 2009 Maotai Bridge on the Renhuai expressway with a main span of 220 meters. Image by John Morrison.
Rain passes through a giant cup on the Renhuai expressway. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
A giant sculpture in the downtown area of Zunyi city, another large Guizhou metropolis. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
This square in downtown Zunyi sits across from a large Wal Mart. Image by Richard Scott.
Richard was on a quest to find more of the elusive orange cookies! Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
An arch bridge along the main river in Zunyi City. Image by Richard Scott.
A view of the Wal Mart sign the next morning. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The entrance to the famous Zunyi meeting house. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The building behind us was the location of a famous conference meeting of the communist party in 1935 during the Long March. Image by Mr. Chen
One of the rooms in the house made to look as it might have in 1935. Image by Richard Scott.
A bedroom used by some of the generals. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The courtyard outside the house is lined with plaques. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
This was the Bruce's first visit to Zunyi. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The gift shop had a lot of Mao memorabilia. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Bruce Lee.
The gigantic Wujiang Viaduct that crosses 173 meters above the city of Wujiang. Image by John Morrison.
The 1997-built Wujiang suspension/cable stayed bridge was the first span of its type to be built in more then 50 years. In 2016 the new Yavuz Sultan Selim or Bosphorus Bridge will open in Turkey with a similar combination of cable stays and suspension cables. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The main span is 288 meters. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Richard Scott.
These Oreo cookie knockoffs did not have much frosting in the middle. Image by Richard Scott.
Another cookie with white frosting and a circular shape inside a package showing square chocolate cookies. Image by Richard Scott.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Once the world's highest bridge at 297 meters, the Liuguanghe is still the world's highest beam bridge. Image by Richard Scott.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
A view looking downstream towards the Liuguanghe arch bridge just barely visible at the top of the photo. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Our lunch in Liuguanghe. By the end of the trip, Bruce and the driver knew to always order peanuts. Image by John Morrison.
The graceful Liuguanhe truss arch that spans more then 90 meters above the Wujiang River. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
An upstream view of the Wujiang River gorge towards the Liuguanghe beam bridge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
A Rolls Royce at a rest stop along the G75 expressway. Image by Richard Scott.
Later in the day we saw another Rolls Royce at the golf course north of Guiyang City. Image by John Morrison.
Our final ice cream at the Guiyang Dico's restaurant. Image by Richard Scott.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
In 2014 check out our next China bridge trip adventure with a whole new collection of spectacular new spans including the first construction images of what is going to be the world's highest road and railway bridges plus dozens more!
