The Sky's the Limit: China takes glass skywalks to a new level
Daniel Allen
When it comes to fantastic public architecture, it seems as though China is constantly striving to break records. Skywalks - which are now mushrooming across the urban and rural Chinese environment - are a case in point.
Yuanduan Skywalk, Longgang National Geological Park, Chongqing
Opened in April 2015, the spectacular Yuanduan ("at the end of the clouds") Skywalk in Chongqing's Longgang National Geological Park is 718 metres above the ground. Costing RMB 35 million (U$5.5 million) to construct, it stretches nearly 27 metres, making it the world's longest glass-bottomed cantilever skywalk (5 metres longer than the Grand Canyon Skywalk in Arizona).
Designed to withstand an 8.0 magnitude earthquake and a level-14 typhoon, the Yuanduan Skywalk is a marvel of engineering. It can support 200 people at a time, but the park has opted to limit that number to 30 to guarantee an enjoyable guest experience. Also included in the development is a see-through mountain pathway.
Cost: tickets are 60 RMB.
Shiniuzhai National Geopark, Hunan
One of China's latest skywalks - opened in May 2015 - the 180-metre long Shiniuzhai Skywalk supports intrepid walkers 300 metres above the ground. Built along the side of a cliff in Shiniuzhai National Geopark, it combines vertigo inducement with entertainment by playing musical notes as visitors walk (electronic components in the glass can play 70 different notes when stepped on). The skywalk was put together by a fearless team of Chinese labourers, working without safety nets or harnesses.
Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, Hunan
Slated to open in October 2015, the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Skywalk is the skywalk to end all skywalks. Spanning a 430-metre gap between two cliffs in Zhangjiajie National Park in Hunan, this glass-bottomed bridge will suspend travellers a death-defying 300 metres above the ground. Needless to day, views of the park - said to be the inspiration for the planet Pandora in James Cameron's Avatar movie - will be spectacular.
The skywalk, which can carry up to 800 people, was designed by Israeli architect Haim Dotan, who says the bridge will double up as a runway for fashion shows. For those seeking even more of a thrill, the bridge will also boast the world's highest bungee jump.
Shanghai World Financial Centre Skywalk
Standing in the center of Pudong in the southern port city of Shanghai beside the adjacent Shanghai and Jinmao Towers, the Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC) was completed in late 2008 and is the second tallest skyscraper in mainland China.
The SWFC's observation deck, the world's tallest at the time of completion, offers views from a thrilling 474 metres above the ground. The 55-metre long Skywalk 100 observation corridor spans the entire top of the rectangular gap at the summit of the skyscraper. With its glass walls, it's not for the faint hearted. Slightly less of an adrenaline rush is the Skywalk 97, which sits at a mere 439 meters and boasts a retractable glass roof.
Cost: tickets are 150 RMB for an adult, with children charged according to height (those under 80 cm go free).
Oriental Pearl TV Tower Skywalk, Shanghai
Soaring above the Pudong New Area, the distinctive Oriental Pearl Tower is one of Shanghai's most iconic buildings. Opened in 1994, it is currently the sixth tallest tower in the world at 468 metres.
Located underneath the middle observation sphere about 300 metres up (accessed via elevator), the Pearl Tower's skywalk is breathtaking. A wraparound glass deck (with gaps between the panels) offers stunning panoramic views of downtown Pudong and the Bund, bisected by the serpentine Huangpu River. There are also great views of three neighbouring Pudong leviathans: the elegant 421-metre Jinmao Tower, the newer 492-metre Shanghai World Finance Center, and the whopping 632-metre Shanghai Tower (not yet open to the public).
Cost: the skywalk can be accessed via an inclusive 160 RMB ticket for the first and second spheres and Shanghai Municipal History Museum.
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