In fact, bridges with glass inserts, through which dizzying views open up, are found not only among the creations of modern architecture. It would seem, is it possible to imagine something more reliable and solid than the Tower Bridge in London, a symbol of the Victorian era and the prosperity of the British kingdom? However, even here the ground can slip from under your feet – if you climb the pedestrian part of the bridge at a height of 44 meters, walk to the area with a glass floor and look at the cars below. However, breathtaking panoramas of London also open up through the windows - and they are certainly worth paying a modest amount for entry here: like any attraction, tickets are sold for the two upper pedestrian bridges and not always allowed.

It is noteworthy that the entrance to the upper part of the bridge was paid from the very beginning, because the Tower "lintels", designed, like the whole structure, by Horace Jones, did not change their position at night, when the automobile part of the bridge was raised. However, zealous Londoners preferred to wait until the bridge was brought down again in order to use the free pedestrian sidewalks.

Expensive maintenance of the elevators did not pay off, and for more than 70 years the road to the top was ordered, until in 1982 an exhibition of the history of the Tower Bridge opened here, which is still open. Moreover, today's visitors have an extra bonus: a trip in a new elevator, which now also has a transparent floor.

However, a completely glass bridge was built already in the 21st century. One of the first was the Lugner Bridge in Vienna by architects Bulant & Wailzer, named after the Austrian billionaire who made his fortune in construction. And the bridge, in turn, serves as the entrance to the shopping center of the same name.

And for Austria - if not for the whole world - in 2005 it was the first time that glass panels of such a large size (2 × 5 m) could be installed on a steel frame using invisible fasteners, so that the impression of a single glass surface was created - and from all four sides.

Inside the bridge there is a restaurant popular with locals and tourists - so much so that even in the most "dead" time there is no free table here. But from the street it becomes obvious only in the evenings, when the glass "inside" is flooded with blue light.

However, if we talk about spectacular lighting, the Yas Marina complex in the UAE, on a completely artificial island in the middle of the Persian Gulf near Abu Dhabi, has become a real masterpiece in the field of lighting design. In 2009, the Formula 1 track was inaugurated here - and a giant hotel built right above it, designed by Hani Rashid of the Asymptote bureau.

Two buildings of different heights are united by a huge canopy 217 meters long, reminiscent of a whale half out of the water, and this canopy consists entirely of 5800 glass panels with built-in LEDs.

Diodes are programmed from a single remote control and change color according to a given scenario - that's why the hotel makes such an indelible impression if you see it in the evening.

But no less interesting experience will, of course, be watching the races. And the best place for this is the glass bridge connecting the hotel buildings: the racing track runs right under it.

A structure with a glass curved canopy - but, of course, on a much smaller scale - was erected in 2010 in the capital of Georgia. The "Bridge of Peace" designed by the Italian Michele de Lucca appeared between the old and new Tbilisi.

We wrote in more detail about the bridge over the Mkhtari River, in which not only the "roof" is made of glass, but also the fences along the entire length. And, although the project was not approved by everyone, today the Bridge of Peace is the same city “icon” as the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, caressed by the attention of tourists.

Actually tourists, thirsty for spectacles, make up the main target audience of glass bridges. Remember the poetic names we listed at the beginning? So all these bridges really exist. For example, many of you have probably heard about Skypath over the Grand Canyon in Arizona, an observation deck designed by architect Mark Ross Johnson and opened in 2009.

This attraction is such an attraction: a bridge in the form of a half-arc, extended beyond the rocks by 20 meters, turns out to be at a height of more than 1.2 km! And this is exactly the case when both the railings and the floor are made of glass, and they are made of glass of special transparency, with protection against pollution.

To look around, so to speak, with a clear look, and feel yourself hovering over the abyss. Whatever you say, this is perhaps the most memorable way to admire the mountains - unless you are ready to put a backpack on your back, arm yourself with an ice ax and crampons and go to conquer Everest.

It is no coincidence that in China, in the south of which the mountain ranges are especially picturesque, walks in the air above the gorges are so popular. It is here, on the territory of the Zhangjiajie National Reserve, that the very “path of fear” is located, located even higher than the Arizona “Sky Trail” - 1300 meters above sea level.

And again, glass is everywhere, the only support is the mountainside, along which the path leads. Those who have walked it from beginning to end claim that it was the most endless 60 meters in their lives.

I wonder what it would be like for them on the five times longer "Bold Courageous Bridge" that opened in Hunan province this fall. Last week, we — for China, this is the first bridge made entirely of glass. The builders claim that even if pedestrians start jumping on it - why jump there: even if the glass eventually breaks, nothing terrible will happen.

In general, they wanted to build the bridge from wood, but unexpectedly calculated that 24 mm thick glass panels would make the structure 25 times stronger. And now, at a height of 180 meters, over a picturesque gorge between two rocks, a 300-meter glass bridge stretches - thus taking away some of the glory from another bridge, which will open only six months later.

Here it was supposed to be, indeed, the longest glass bridge - and concurrently the highest: 430 meters long, almost 300 meters high. The Bridge in the Clouds will stretch over the Chinese version of the Grand Canyon (you didn't doubt they have one, did you?) and will consist of 99 2-inch-thick glass plates.

The Italian architect Chaim Dotan, who designed the "cloud road", claims that up to 800 people can be on it at the same time. And those who will still not have enough thrills after the walk will be offered to jump down from it using the “rope jumping” technique, tying a rope to themselves. To fly - so fly!

It is a pity that such picturesque gorges cannot be found near Moscow. However, there is a chance that the capital will soon have its own "floating bridge". A spectacular V-shaped structure, noticeably prominent above the Moskva River, is in the park project in Zaryadye, which is currently being developed by an international team of specialists led by the New York bureau Diller Scofidio + Renfro.

We do not know how the bridge will look in reality, but in the picture it is magnificent. And the panoramas of Zamoskvorechye, although they cannot compete with mountain landscapes, are also very attractive.

One way or another, it would be a mistake to talk about glass bridges only in the context of viewing platforms. For example, glass bridges and galleries are increasingly found in housing estates and neighborhoods. Here they perform their direct duty - they connect different parts and levels of the complex together.

Indicative in this sense is the Beijing project Linked Hybrid by American Steven Hall. 9 buildings (8 residential and one hotel) are interconnected at three levels at once: on the ground, underground and in the air. And these suspension bridges actually “made” the quarter, providing it with a recognizable expressive look.

From the point of view of space organization, bridges also play a big role: for Stephen Hall, they work as a variety of public areas. There is a pool in one zone, a fitness club in another, a cafe in the third, a gallery in the fourth ... Perhaps, in this duality lies the essence of the name - Linked Hybrid, "linked hybrid". But what is especially important is that all public spaces of the complex can also be used by citizens.

In this regard - and also in the context, of course, of glass bridges - it is impossible not to recall another project - and again in Moscow. The sensational "Garden Quarters", the design code for which was developed by Sergey Skuratov, and all the buildings were designed by prominent Russian architects, are under active construction. And with the Hall project, as it turns out, the "Garden Quarters" have a lot in common.

This is the permeability of public areas for citizens, and the use of bridges as a universal "link" between diverse and multi-level buildings and public spaces. And glass bridges are made to completely dissolve in the surroundings and not distract the eye from a rather rare collection of high-quality architecture in one place for Moscow.

Finally, you probably noticed that absolutely all the bridges in our selection are pedestrian. But believe me: the point is not at all that the glass surface will not withstand the weight of the car. It's just that glass, being part of the bridge, opens up new levels of connectivity for the pedestrian - not between points A and B, but between our inner world and the outside, between us and new impressions. Glass seems to give the bridge a third dimension that you can't see through a car window. And only when you feel the ground with your feet, you can break away from it.

Photo by Rupert Steiner, Wikimedia, Asymptote, Skuratov Architects, DS+R, Steven Holl Architects

Recently, the Chinese love to build glass. In 2016, several walking trails over the abyss opened, as well as a similar bridge, but of a shorter length and size. Cracks formed on one of the trails two weeks later.

Chinese tourists are not afraid of anything, and crowds of people have already appeared on the new attraction. Before the opening, it was tested with a sledgehammer for strength, which means that the bridge should not collapse: you can risk your life to walk on it and take stunning selfies.

Wang Ming, one of the visitors: I wanted some inspiration. I'm not sick - the bridge seems safe!

The bridge is located in the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in the urban district of the same name, in Hunan province. This is the same park with sandstone pillars that inspired James Cameron to film Avatar.

The bridge is 430 meters long, six wide, made of 99 glass panels and hangs over a precipice at a level of 290 meters. Construction cost $3.4 million. The author of the project, Israeli architect Haimn Dotan, initially refused the order.

Chaim: The customer asked me: “What do you think if we build a bridge from here to here? I answered: "No." He looked at me and said, “Why? What are you even talking about?" I asked again: “Why the bridge? It is very beautiful in here. [He'll ruin the look]." The customer kept pushing, and I agreed: “Okay, let's build a bridge, but on one condition. I want it to be made of glass and not be seen.

The bridge had to be six meters wider: the customer wanted to hold fashion shows on it, as well as organize bungee jumps. The white cables holding the structures in the air should also be more massive.

Chaim insisted on his own: No way. The bridge must be invisible.

The project took three years to complete. The bridge was made light and strong. The design is able to withstand wind gusts up to 100 m/s. The design engineers were satisfied.

Chaim: They told me that the bridge was as thin as a feather and as light as a breath of air. My God, can you imagine techies describing a bridge like that?!

On the opening day, 8,000 tourists immediately came to the park to test the strength of the bridge. People ran and jumped on the bridge, sat on the twine and did other acrobatic stunts. And, of course, selfies.

The glass bridge in China, which opened in September this year, cracked right under the feet of tourists. Many people who risk walking on a glass bridge at a height of several hundred meters, and without unnecessary shocks, experience the strongest excitement and fear, since the glass under their feet does not at all seem as strong as it really is. After the incident, the tourists began a real panic.

It all happened after one of the tourists dropped a metal thermos with water. The impact cracked the glass. Eyewitnesses of the incident say that a loud sound and unusual vibrations were suddenly heard, after which the glass under their feet began to crack. The tourists who were in this place screamed and ran away from the bridge. It all looked like a scene from some action movie. However, things did not go further than cracks. The bridge did not collapse or collapse, and no one was injured in the incident.

The builders of the bridge claim that the bridge is very reliable and can withstand a load of 800 kilograms per square meter. In addition, the deck of the bridge consists of three layers of durable glass, each of which is 24 millimeters thick. When the metal thermos was hit, only one layer was damaged. Currently, the bridge is closed to visitors, the damaged section is being repaired.

The glass bridge in Hunan province has recently become a real attraction. The bridge was built in the mountains of Yuntaishan. For many, a hike on such a bridge seems like a real extreme journey. The glass deck of the bridge creates the feeling of walking through the air at a great height.

Video. The longest glass bridge in China

Glass bridge in China photo

The glass bridge is not only beautiful, but also stylish. The Chinese decided so, and built an unusual glass building in Hunan province. After the bridge was built, it was used to connect the two sides of the mountains, and also played a lot of tourists.

Bridge Features

This bridge is considered the longest structure on the planet made of glass. Its length is 430 meters. And the width is 6 meters. The bridge is suspended at a height of 380 meters. Also, this design is safe and equipped with the latest technology.

The glass bridge project and its construction cost China $3.4 million. The bridge consists of 99 strong and three-layer parts. A national park and a canyon extend under the bridge. So far, excursions at the facility are being held in test mode.

Draws of tourists

Immediately after the opening, a funny incident occurred on an extraordinary bridge. The guide, who was leading the group through the glass structure, suddenly fell to his knees and screamed hysterically, and under his feet there was a visual effect of cracked glass. The tourists were taken aback, but then relaxed a little, because a passer-by was calmly walking along the bridge in their direction.

Glass bridge in China cracked under the feet of tourists (video)

It turned out that the bridge is equipped with interactive panels that create the effect of cracks, as well as reproducing the sound of breaking glass necessary for the prank. These are the Chinese entertainers.

Bridge visit

8,000 people can look at the bridge and walk along it a day. Before opening, the structure was tested for strength more than 100 times. The attraction was opened in 2016. At first, people were on duty near the ticket office in front of the bridge at night to buy a ticket for an excursion.

Now everyone is used to the new miracle of engineering, and the excitement around it has subsided a bit. 800 people can cross the bridge at the same time. But for security reasons, the throughput number was reduced to 600. After all, the bridge itself is guarded by about 200 guards.

The facility is open to visitors from 7 am to 5 pm. It often happens that by 8 am all tickets for the glass bridge are already sold out, so it is worth planning a tour of it in advance.

The ticket price is approximately 140 yuan. A child under 1 meter and 30 centimeters tall can enter for free.

How to get to the glass bridge?

The city with the bridge is located in the southwest of Beijing. You can get there by train. You will have to get off the car at the Zhangjiajie station. It is also possible to fly to this place from Beijing by plane.

The canyon, over which a glass bridge hangs, is a 15-minute drive from the city. It is preferable to get to it by car, which is not difficult to rent.

The bridge is strong enough, there should not be any defects, it is able to withstand even a high temperature of 60 °. Does not wobble or stagger in wind speeds of 220 kilometers per hour.

The bridge is treated with care, everyone who wants to walk on it puts on shoe covers. And for people who really want to admire the beauty of the valley, but are afraid to go alone, there is a special staff that accompanies the whole way - from one peak to another.

True, the Chinese themselves are already accustomed to such bridges. The very first glass bridge was built on Tianmen Mountain. The length of courage is only 61 meters. But when you find out at what height the bridge is located, you are unlikely to agree to feel all the delights of human creation. The bridge flaunts at an altitude of 1220 meters. There are always enough people who want to, but there are more of those who are instilled with fear of heights. Many people are terrified of heights, I wonder what it was like for the builders. We hope that their work is well compensated.

You will not believe it, but not so long ago, a guide was leading a tourist group along the bridge, when suddenly cracks began to appear under his feet with a creaking sound.

The man fell to the floor and started screaming, he was scared. Interestingly, a happy, calm man walks towards him and casts an incomprehensible glance at the guide. He is not aware of what happened.

In the video you can see what is happening for yourself. People were so excited, and there were heated discussions on the net later. To reassure people, the East Taihanshan County government told the media that these were just special effects. This is such a PR move so that a large number of tourists visit such a frightening attraction.