World's highest bridge collapses in China's Guizhou province
The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge in China, recently inaugurated as the "world's highest bridge," dramatically collapsed just months after opening, creating a massive dust cloud and landslides. Preliminary signs of danger, including embankment deformation, had prompted local authorities to close the highway section. The collapse, which occurred in the popular tourist region of Sichuan, has led experts to evaluate the possibility of reconstruction or rerouting the highway to Tibet.
Only a few months after its spectacular inauguration, the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge in Guizhou province, China, collapsed. The structure, which was heralded as the "world's highest bridge," failed, triggering an immense cloud of dust and significant landslides.
The bridge is located in the popular tourist region of Sichuan province in southwestern China and connected the country's central area to Tibet via a major highway. Local authorities have not yet reported any casualties resulting from the collapse.
The failure began when the bridge deck and the access area initially gave way, followed by the collapse of the pillars and the main girder. The dramatic disintegration produced a huge dust cloud and caused large landslides in the mountainous region.
Collapse Was Preceded by Warning Signs
The first signs of danger appeared on Monday when a deformation of the embankment was detected on the right bank of the bridge. An inspection quickly revealed a risk of collapse, as reported by Sichuan Daily. In response, local authorities took precautionary measures by immediately closing access to the relevant section of the highway and the bridge itself.
Experts are now tasked with determining whether the structure can be rebuilt or if a new route will need to be chosen for the Sichuan highway.
The Bridge Before the Collapse
The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge was inaugurated on September 28, 2025. It was officially presented as the "world's highest bridge," suspended at 625 meters above a gorge in the mountainous Guizhou province.
The bridge featured a main span of 1,420 meters and was supported by immense pillars that appeared to rise through the clouds. When it opened to road traffic, it dramatically reduced the crossing time between the two banks from two hours to just two minutes, according to local authorities.
