Guizhou weaves tourism magic with bridges

Balinghe Bridge: transport infrastructure and education center. [Photo/China Daily]

Southwest China's Guizhou province, once defined by its jagged peaks and isolating valleys, has rewritten its destiny with steel and ingenuity. Across its 176,000 square kilometers, over 30,000 bridges stitch the skyline, nearly half of which rank among the world's 100 tallest.

These soaring structures, once mere solutions to geographic barriers, now weave a new narrative where engineering marvel meets immersive tourism, transforming transport arteries into breathtaking "sky galleries".

Today, bridges such as the Beipanjiang and Balinghe stretch like steel dragons across abysses, their dizzying heights offering more than passage: they offer awe.

These bridges are now catalysts for ‌"bridge-tourism integration", a vision that turns infrastructure into a cultural spectacle. Suspended walkways offer views of mist-wrapped valleys, while partnerships with villages like Pinglihe weave rural charm into the experience: farm stays, waterfall rappelling, and fruit-picking thrive beneath colossal spans.

The ‌Balinghe Bridge‌ near Huangguoshu Waterfall merges natural grandeur with human craftsmanship. Tourists can hike waterfalls during the day, scale bridge towers for the sunset, and unwind in cliffside lodges at night.

Beyond tourism, bridges are economic lifelines. They've birthed 12 cross-industry clusters, from e-sports hubs at bridge viewpoints to wellness retreats in their shadows. Rural incomes now surge as villages like Pinglihe transition from isolation to destination.