Top 10 Tallest Bridges in the World

The top 10 tallest bridges in the world, like China’s ‌Beipanjiang Bridge‌ (565 meters) and ‌Sidu River Bridge‌, share several engineering marvels that allow them to soar above deep valleys and rivers. Here’s what makes these giants stand out:

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‌1. Structural Design‌

Most ultra-tall bridges use ‌cable-stayed‌ or ‌suspension designs‌ to span vast distances. For example, the ‌Duge Bridge‌ and ‌Chenab Bridge‌ rely on steel cables anchored to towering pylons, distributing weight efficiently while resisting wind forces‌.

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‌2. Advanced Bridge Bearings‌

To handle movement from wind, temperature shifts, or earthquakes, these bridges depend on specialized ‌bridge bearings‌:

• ‌Spherical bridge bearings‌ allow controlled rotation at support points, crucial for balancing uneven loads in mountainous terrain‌.
• ‌Elastic sliding bearings‌ absorb vibrations from traffic, protecting the bridge’s foundation‌.
• ‌Seismic isolating rubber bearings‌ and ‌laminated rubber bearings‌ act as shock absorbers during earthquakes, decoupling the bridge from ground tremors‌.
• ‌Pot bridge bearings‌, sealed and corrosion-resistant, ensure longevity in harsh climates like Russia’s icy Russky Bridge‌.

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‌3. Material Innovation‌

High-strength steel and reinforced concrete dominate construction. The ‌Akashi Kaikyō Bridge‌ in Japan, for instance, uses steel cables coated to resist saltwater corrosion—a feature shared with coastal giants like the ‌Golden Gate Bridge‌‌.

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‌4. Adaptability to Extreme Environments‌

From China’s ‌Yachi Bridge‌ (434 meters) to Mexico’s ‌Baluarte Bridge‌, these structures withstand hurricanes, earthquakes, and temperature extremes. Their success hinges on combining ‌elastic sliding bearings‌ for flexibility and ‌spherical bearings‌ for precise load distribution‌.

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‌5. Safety & Maintenance‌

Regular inspections focus on ‌bridge bearings‌ and cable tension. For example, ‌laminated rubber bearings‌ in France’s Millau Viaduct are checked for wear to prevent sudden failures during storms‌.

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‌Why These Bridges Matter‌

They’re not just feats of height—they push engineering limits. By integrating technologies like ‌pot bearings‌ and ‌seismic isolators‌, these bridges ensure safety while connecting remote regions, proving that even the tallest structures can bend (safely) without breaking‌.

Now, let’s all enjoy top 10 tallest bridges in the world together.

1. No. 1 Beipanjiang Bridge, Guizhou, China (height: 565 meters)

The First Beipanjiang Bridge in Guizhou is the world’s highest. It cost 1.028 billion yuan. After 39 months of work, it opened to traffic at the end of 2016. The east tower of the bridge is in Duge Town, Shuicheng County, Guizhou. The west tower is in Xuanwei Puli, Yunnan. With a total length of 1,341.4 meters and a main span of 720 meters, the bridge tower is 269 meters high and the bridge floor is 565 meters above the water. The First Beipanjiang Bridge, certified by Guinness World Records Co., Ltd., is the tallest bridge in the world.

2. Jinsha River Bridge, Yunnan Province, China (Height: 512 meters)

The Jinsha River Bridge connects Huixi Town on the right bank with Dukou Town in Sichuan Province on the left bank. The main span is a continuous steel structure, cast-in-place concrete box girder with a 158-meter span. The side span is a composite box girder. The bridge is 579 meters long and 512 meters high. The Jinsha River’s geology requires a 100-meter-deep foundation for the main span pier. This is very rare in China.

3. Sidu River Bridge in Hubei, China (height: 496 meters)

Sidu River Bridge, in Hubei’s Enshi Prefecture, connects Yichang and Enshi. It is also the first mountain suspension bridge in China. Construction began in 2004 and opened in 2009. The total cost was 618 million yuan. The bridge was once the world’s first high-suspension bridge. It has a height difference of 496 meters between the carriages and the valley floor.

4. Puli Grand Bridge, Yunnan, China (Height: 485)

Located in Puli Township, Xuanwei City, Yunnan Province, it is a large bridge across the Puli Grand Canyon. Its total length is 1,040 meters, the main span is 628 meters, and the height is 485 meters. The total project cost is 519 million yuan, and the contract period is 36 months.

5. Yanchihe Bridge, Guiqian, Guizhou, China (434 meters high)

The Yechi River Bridge in Guizhou province connects Bijie and Guiyang. It is on the Yechi River Road. Construction started in 2014, and it opened in 2016. The line is 1,240 meters long. The main span is 800 meters. Its height is 434 meters. The total investment was 780 million yuan.

6. Qingshui River Bridge in Weng ‘an, Guizhou Province, China (height 406 meters)

Qingshui River Bridge, located in Weng’an County, Guizhou Province, has a main span of 1,130 meters as a steel girder suspension bridge. It has the longest main span in Guizhou Province. It’s the first steel girder suspension bridge in the Asian mountains. It is 406 meters high. Construction of the bridge started in 2013, and officials opened it to traffic in 2015.

7. Hijgio Canyon Pipeline Bridge, Papua New Guinea (height: 393 meters)

The Hijicho Gorge Pipeline Bridge, at Otoma in Papua New Guinea’s Southern Highlands, is an oil pipeline suspension bridge. It is 393 meters high.

8. Bataru Bridge, Mexico (height: 390 m)

Workers began construction of the Bataru Bridge, located in Mexico, in 2008 and completed it in 2012 at a cost of $159 million. The bridge is 1,124 meters long, with a main span of 520 meters and a height of 390 meters from the bottom of the valley.

9. Liuguang River Bridge (375 m), Xiqian Expressway, Guizhou, China

The Liuguanghe Bridge on the Xiqian Expressway spans the Liuguang River. It is at the junction of Liubucket Town in Xiuwen County and Tailai Township in Qianxi County, Guizhou Province. The bridge is 1,280 meters long. Its main span is 580 meters. The height difference between the bridge floor and the river is 375 meters.

10. Balinghe Bridge in Guizhou, China (height: 370 meters)

Balinghe Bridge spans the Balinghe River’s Grand Canyon in Guizhou. It connects Zhenning Autonomous County to the Zhensheng Expressway in Yunnan. Balinghe Bridge is a large bridge. It is 1,564 meters long. It has a main span of 1,088 meters. Its highest pier is 202 meters. Its floor is over 370 meters high. The total investment is 1.48 billion yuan. The bridge, built from 2005 to 2009, has six firsts.