2014 Eric Sakowski
Events of 2014
China 2014 High Bridge Trip
The 3-week 2014 High Bridge trip toured through the towering mountains of Western China with 4 big bridge fans including our first 2 U.S. tourists as well as a couple from Australia.
Half of our group met up at the JTARD design building across from the famous Tongji University in Shanghai. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Tongji University earthquake testing skyscraper models. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Unusual cable stayed and suspension wind testing models. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Our first bridge of the trip - the Yichang Yangtze River span as seen from the hotel. Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
The giant Longtanhe beam bridge is the first super size high bridge on the G50 expressway with a deck nearly 200 meters high. Image by Jorson.
Image by John Filmer.
Yexihe Railway Bridge pier nearly 100 meters tall. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
A side view of the Yexihe Railway Bridge on the high speed line from Yichang to Chongqing City. Image by John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Another high speed train passes in front of the towering Tieluoping cable stayed bridge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Shunaghekou Bridge is the last big structure before the G50 climbs in elevation to the Siduhe Bridge. Image by Peter Wu.
Siduhe Bridge in all of its glory. 2014 was the last year this giant held onto the title of World's Highest Bridge as both Puli and Beipanjiang Duge will surpass it in 2015 and 2016. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Filmer.
Our trusty mini-van held out for 3 weeks of some nasty mountain driving save for the finicky air conditioning fuses. Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Nothing beats a nice stroll across China's highest suspension bridge! Image by Elly Filmer.
A downstream dam reduced the height of the deck from 496 to 466 meters when the reservoir is full. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Filmer.
Zhijinghe is the world's highest road arch bridge with a deck 294 meters high. Image by John Filmer.
A train passes over the Yesan River. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The classic 1977 Yesanhe arch bridge that was once the highest in China at 125 meters but would not even rank among China's 200 highest today. Image by Jorson.
The Yesanhe pipeline suspension bridge. Image by Peter Wu.
The Enshi city stone arch ranks among the 25 longest of its type in the world. Today it is only open to pedestrians. Image by Peter Wu.
Enshi Wind and Rain bridge. Image by John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Filmer.
The amazing cliffs of the Enshi Grand Canyon. Image by John Filmer.
A small arch crosses 77 meters above the lower river within Enshi Grand Canyon. Image by Peter Wu.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Once the main bridge across the canyon, the original 57 meter high Yunlong Bridge one-lane arch is now a covered pedestrian-only bridge that leads hikers down into the river gorge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Elly Filmer.
Image by Peter Wu.
Image by Mr. Chen.
Image by Unknown.
The vertical cliffs and towering spires of Enshi Grand Canyon are accessible by cliffwalks that are more then 100 meters high. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Mr. Chen.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Peter Wu.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Unknown.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Stair widening. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Peter Wu.
The most famous rock formation in Enshi Grand Canyon is this impossibly narrow spire overlooking the valley hundreds of meters below. Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Jorson.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Qingjiang Bridge on the G50 expressway is one of the world's highest single tower cable stayed bridges. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Gaodongxi is the first of several high bridges on the new expressway between Enshi and Qianjiang cities. Image by John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Shibanxi Bridge is another skyscraper on the new expressway south of Enshi. Image by John Filmer.
A truck had crashed over the side of the road to Qinajiang. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Zhongjianhe Bidge with the central truss span of 400 meters just days from closure. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
Image from engineer Douzhiming.
The very center of the bridge could only be crossed on wood planks. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
One of the highest arch bridges in Hubei at 190 meters, the Long Bridge is a CFST arch that opened to traffic in early 2015. Image by Jorson.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Another big beam bridge over 100 meters high on the new expressway. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Qianjiang City waterfront streets and restaurants. Image by John Filmer.
Many of the hotels had Mahjong games in the rooms. Image by John Filmer.
Rising almost 150 meters above the Qianjiang river is this pipeline arch. Image by John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Peter Wu.
In 2013 the beautiful goddess Avalokiteśvara was carved into the cliffside just south of Qianjiang City to attract tourists to the gorge. The bas-relief sculpture is said to be 123 meters high with a width of 69 meters but the top of the sculpture is almost 300 meters above the river surface. Image by John Filmer.
Image by Peter Wu.
The road to the new airport was being widened necessitating the addition of a parallel arch next to the original from several years earlier. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
In addition to the Avalokiteśvara cliff sculpture, the new gorge park also offers tourists another one of Western China's new cliffwalks. Image by Peter Wu.
The Yanxigou bridge is one of the more beautiful beam spans on the G65 expressway near Qianjiang. Image by John Filmer.
The Xisha bridge is the highest arch on the G65 rising more then 200 meters above a deep crevasse. Image by Peter Wu.
Image by Peter Wu.
This cinder block wall originally looked like a shark head before the upper section collapsed sometime in the year prior. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The "Xisha Shark" back in 2011. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Xisha Bridge gorge. Image by John Filmer.
The most famous high bridge in all of China is arguably the Aizhai suspension bridge that rises 330 meters above a small town. A visitors center and tourist walkway inside the truss below the main road deck were finally completed and opened to the public in 2015. Image by John Filmer.
Image by Jorson.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Peter Wu.
A sign is all that remains of the 300 meter high tightrope walk by Adili Hoshur in 2012. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The steel cable was left up until 2013 or early 2014 before it was cut. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Every trip has a best and a worst hotel and the hotel below the Aizhai Bridge was surely the worst with broken air conditioners and showers with water pressure equal to a toy squirt gun. But the view of the Aizhai Bridge was great. Image by John Filmer.
On overloaded truck loses his brakes and wheel from the long descending road into the Aizhai valley. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Mr. Chen.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Aizhai Bridge from the hotel. Image by John Filmer.
The nearly complete elevator for tourists to descend from the parking area to the bridge truss walkway. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Aizhai street breakfast. Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
The giant Morong Bridge staging area was busy with workers constructing the massive piers that will support 3 spans of 170 meters on the new expressway between Jishou and Yongshun. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The giant Furongzhen Bridge will cross a reservoir on a giant beam span of 230 meters. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Furongzhen Bridge construction from the local 2-lane arch bridge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
A drawing of the giant 250 meter high Mengdonghe Yongji Bridge that was under construction. Image by Peter Wu.
Mengdonghe Yongji arch bridge visit. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Lishuihe suspension bridge is not as famous as the Aizhai Bridge despite having a deck just as high at 330 meters. Image by John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Our hotel in Wulingyuan near Zhangjiajie National Park. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Our evening dinner hosted by Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon owners Lorna and her husband Mr. Chen with famous bungee master AJ Hackett who will be installing the world's highest public bungy jump from the center of the Zhangjiajie Glass footbridge in 2016. Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
Mengdonghe Zhanghua arch. Image by Peter Wu.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Fenghuang City gate. Image by John Filmer.
Fenghuang city is one of the most popular ancient tourist cities in Hunan Province with many riverfront buildings and streets preserved to look old. Our arrival was only a few weeks after a nasty flood roared through the city and destroyed dozens of shops and stores near the river as well as wiping out the railings of some of the footbridges. Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Mr. Chen.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Mr. Chen.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
Fenghuang City Hotel. Image by John Filmer.
The Xiaojiang Bridge towers more then 125 meters high near the city of Tongren. Image by Peter Wu.
Image by John Filmer.
The great Wujiang River is crossed by this single tower cable stayed bridge in Tongren city. Image by John Filmer.
Boulevard construction along the Wujiang River in Tongren. Image by John Filmer.
The massive G56 Wujiang Bridge crosses more then 150 meters above the river on spans of 200 meters. The Wujiang has more high bridges across its waters then any other river in the world. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Our lunch in Tongren City with a lot of veggies. Image by John Filmer.
Towering over 200 meters high, the Wujiang Bridge Yanrong is on a new North-South expressway in the center of Guizhou Province. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The remains of a construction incline used to access the base of the piers. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Wujiang Bridge Silin is another big beam span located just downstream of a major dam. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Longchuan Bridge cuts across a remote river canyon south of Tongren. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Gaoguohe Bridge is 140 meters high. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Wuyanghe crosses one of eastern Guizhou's biggest rivers before the expressway meets up with the older G60 expressway. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Wuyang River canyon. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Pianpo Bridge is one of several giant beam spans within the city borders of Guiyang. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
One of the busy boulevards of Guiyang City. Image by John Filmer.
Rafters begin their journey along the Nan River. Image by John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Nanjiang Railway Bridge is the highest railway beam bridge in the world at 230 meters. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
This large pagoda marks the western edge of the largest apartment and commercial building project in the history of Guiyang City. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Najiehe Railway Bridge is technically the world's highest railway bridge if measured to the original water level of the Sancha River which is submerged under a man-made reservoir more then 25 meters deep. Image by John Filmer.
The main span of 352 meters consists of four steel box beam ribs. Image by Peter Wu.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Easy to see from the G60 expressway west of Guiyang city are these 2 arch spans that cross one of Guizhou's largest reservoirs. Image by John Filmer.
The giant Balinghe Bridge. Image by Jorson.
Image by John Filmer.
The Balinghe Bridge visitors center opened in 2015 where you can purchase tickets to go up an elevator and into the truss of the bridge almost 370 meters above the river. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The elevator entrance building near the base of the east tower. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Beipanjiang Bridge crossing of the Hukun expressway. Image by Peter Wu.
A rare pipeline bridge across the Beipanjiang. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
With a span of 445 meters, the Beipanjiang Railway Bridge near Qinglong will become the longest span concrete arch ever built. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Construction supervisor Derek Fu and lead bridge designer Xie Hai Qing. 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 John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Peter Wu.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Longtime friend Ian Chen and cousin of our driver Mr. Chen gave us a tour of the large housing development he is working on in the city of Xiuwen north of Guiyang. Within the area are a group of buildings that house a museum to memorialize a 16th century poet, philosopher, and successful army commander in the Sung dynasty named Wang yang-Ming 王陽明. During WWII, the compound was used for the quarantine of a big War Lord 張學良 for his action of holding Chiang Kai-shek hostage to force him to clear war against the Japanese. He lost his freedom for life from then on. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Filmer.
The development will have large parks, a river, upscale hotels, cultural centers and the preservation of the museum and buildings that are hundreds of years old. Image by John Filmer.
Image by Peter Wu.
Image by Peter Wu.
Image by Peter Wu.
Image by Peter Wu.
Image by Peter Wu.
Image by John Filmer.
Ian's boss treated us to a great lunch in one of the cities nicest restaurants. Image by John Filmer.
Liuguanghe was once the world's highest bridge on a 2-lane expressway that was bypassed by larger and safer 4-lane expressways to the north and the south. Despite no longer ranking among even the world's top 10 highest bridges, Liuguanghe is still the world's highest beam bridge at 297 meters. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Liuguanghe Bridge rest area was originally nothing more then some temporary eating stalls before a more permanent group of building was built sometime after 2013. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The giant Xixhe Bridge on the new Qianda expressway is the world's 2nd highest beam bridge after Liuguanghe with a deck to water drop of 260 meters. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Xixihe temporary footbridge more then 100 meters above the river. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Xixihe 2-lane suspension bridge on the Guibi highway. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Luojiaohe suspension bridge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The deep reservoir below the Luojiaohe Bridge. Image by Peter Wu.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
A horse enjoys a walk over the Luojiaohe Bridge! Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Our Bijie city hotel overlooked the main riverwalk in the city. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Diaolan River gorge. Image by John Filmer.
A view of the second Diaolanhe Bridge crossing. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
A view looking downstream from the smaller Diaolanhe arch bridge. Image by John Filmer.
The Zongxihe arch bridge where we saw the placing of the very first arch segment up close. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Concrete will be pumped up into the steel tubes once the arch has been erected. Image by Peter Wu.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
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 Unknown.
Our hotel in downtown Nayong. Image by John Filmer.
One of the highest beam bridges on the G76 expressway is the giant Nayong Bridge rising 200 meters above the river surface. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Also in Nayong city is the Yongyang beam bridge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Just outside of Nayong city is the new Kalahe Railway Bridge that opened in 2016 allowing railway travel all the way to Guiyang city. Image by Peter Wu.
Also within the Nayong city region is the Longtoushan Yudonghe Railway Bridge with a central span of 128 meters and height of more then 150 meters. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The drive along a pot hole filled 2-lane road for more then 4 hours to the Wuzuohe Bridge. Image by John Filmer.
Image by Peter Wu.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Filmer.
Our hotel in Liupanshui city where the hotel manager Mrs. Chen treated us to a great evening meal at a unique hot pot restaurant. Image by Peter Wu.
Image by Mrs. Chen.
A view of how the Beipanjiang Duge Bridge will look in 2016 when it opens as the World's Highest Bridge with a deck drop of at least 564 meters. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Beipanjiang Duge Bridge headquarters from 160 meters up on the tower. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Gexiang River can be seen flowing under the crane towards its confluence with the Beian River. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Guizhou towers reach a height of 170 meters. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
A view across the canyon towards the Yunnan side. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
The giant Beipanjiang beam bridge that contains one of the 10 longest beam spans in the world at 290 meters. The deck is 245 meters above the river. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Wanglongbao Bridge with a drop of 208 meters on a span 160 meters long. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The small Wanlong arch bridge as seen from the Wanglongbao Bridge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Panxian City is one of the fastest growing urban areas in Guizhou with expressway and high speed railway access arriving soon in both North-South and East-West directions. Image by John Filmer.
Image by Peter Wu.
LED lighting is everywhere in Panxian. Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
The new Malinge cable stayed bridge. Image by Peter Wu.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Our Xingyi city hotel. Image by John Filmer.
The amazing waterfalls of the Maling River gorge were at full volume from recent rains. Image by John Filmer.
The 73 meter high cliff elevator that brings tourists out of the gorge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Elly Filmer.
Image by Unknown.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Jorson.
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 Unknown.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
One of the many architectural wonders of Xingyi city! Image by John Filmer.
Still one of the highest beam railway bridges in the world at 180 meters, the Qingshuihe Railway crossing is also one of the most beautiful. Image by Peter Wu.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The moment before John and me had our hats blown off! Mine was never recovered. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The main plaza in Xingyi city was a lively place. Image by Peter Wu.
An older and a newer concrete arch cross the Maling River in the southern end of Xingyi city. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Filmer.
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
The Maling River 110 meter high arch near the north end of Xingyi City. The wide concrete arch bridge has a main span of 152 meters. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
An old stone arch at the bottom of the valley that is hundreds of years old. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Nanpanjiang Railway Bridge is the world's 3rd longest concrete arch and was designed by Xie Hai Qing who gave us a tour of the slightly larger Beipanjiang Railway Bridge near Qinglong. Both spans have similar dimensions with a 100 meter arch rise but the span of Nanpanjiang is 29 meters shorter then the Beipan crossing. The new high speed railway line will open in 2016 allowing super fast travel between southern cities like Shenzhen and Hong Kong with Kunming. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Peter Wu.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The nicest hotel of the trip was the Hao Bang Hotel in Mile, Yunnan. Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
Our driver Mr. Chen belts out a tune. Image by Elly Filmer.
Biao sings Kenny Roger's "Lady". Image by Elly Filmer.
Image by Elly Filmer.
Image by Elly Filmer.
The nicest room in Yunnan Province! Image by John Filmer.
Nothing like taking a smoke break during lunch! Image by John Filmer.
The biggest tourist attraction in all of Yunnan Province is the Shilin Stone Forest where unusual rock formations bend and distort themselves into odd shapes and curves. Image by Peter Wu.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Jorson.
Image by Jorson.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Peter Wu.
Image by Elly Filmer.
Image by Unknown.
Image by Elly Filmer.
By sheer coincidence we met Beipanjiang and Nanpanjiang Railway Bridge designer Xie Hai Qing and his wife and daughter at the stone forest. Image by Unknown.
One of the entrances to the historical city of Dali. The old town area has become a tourist spot but most people go to Dalit to see the 3 pagodas that are over 1,000 years old. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Mr. Chen.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
John stands in front of the leaning pagoda where the foundation is not as solid as the other 2 pagodas. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Lijiang Park wall. Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
Lijiang Park dancers. Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
Lijiang Park has 24 hour KFC, Pizza Hut and McDonalds. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
There are many nightclubs along the alleys of Lijiang. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
An interesting beatnik-type cafe nearly hidden among the alleys. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
A concrete arch carries the G214 road across the Jinshajiang upper Yangtze River near Tiger Leaping gorge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Another crossing of the Jinshajiang just south of Tiger Leaping Gorge. Image by Peter Wu.
The main parking area for tour buses headed into the Tiger Leaping Gorge. The mountains in the background rise almost 4,000 meters from the river to the highest peaks. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
A view looking south where the large expressway and railway suspension bridges will cross more then 200 meters above the gorge when they are completed by the year 2020. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
A narrow, less accessible trail traverses the east side of the river canyon with few tourists. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The giant viewing platform overlooking the famous Tiger Leaping rock has been exapnded to handle much bigger crowds. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Peter Wu.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The giant rock made famous by the tale of a Tiger Leaping across the river. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
There are glass panels on the edge of the viewing platform. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Jorson.
Image by Jorson.
Image by Elly Filmer.
The parking area is always full during the tourist season. Image by John Filmer.
Stair truss supports. Image by John Filmer.
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The incredible peaks near the Middle Tiger Leaping gorge where we stayed at Tina's Guesthouse. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Tina's Guesthouse is just a hundred meters from the highest bridge in the entire Tiger Leaping Gorge area. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Shenchuan arch bridge crosses 110 meters above a small creek. At night we tossed a small round of firecrackers over the side which caused a lot of noise as it fell to the bottom of the crevasse. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Shenchuan looking upstream. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
A view looking down from the Shenchuan arch bridge to the churning waters of the great Jinshajiang. Image by John Filmer.
Tina's Guest House. Image by John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The trail entrance to hike down into Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Filmer.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Filmer.
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
A view of the Lower Tiger Leaping Gorge which few tourists ever visit. Maybe on a future trip. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Mr. Chen.
After hiking for several hours we got lost attempting to get back up to the main road and ended up on a farmer's property. When Biao asked the owner how often lost tourists wander onto his property he replied, "All the time". Lucky for us we did not have to hike several more kilometers back to our guesthouse. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Our final group photo at a nice restaurant on Kunming's Cuihu Lake. The 3-week excursion was another great adventure with an outstanding group of explorers who conquered a small part of Western China's marvelous, mythical and otherworldly land of gargantuan gorges and soaring spans.
