I read about a glass based bridge being opened in China. A few months later up popped what I thought was the same story and picture again. On closer reading I found there was a second bridge. I am compiling a list in order to be able to
a) Know if an article is about a new bridge or one which already exists
b) To know what choice is available in order to visit the nearest or the one which is the cheapest trip or the one suitable for the season in which I am visiting
c) To know how many there are in order to choose the most interesting,
d) To pick the bridge nearest to other attractions,
e) Or to do a trip to all of them either for fun or photography or both.
Which is the nearest, the nicest, the cheapest, the most thrilling, the best to photograph?
Here are the current results (Aug 2016)
1 Grand Canyon Skywalk, USA. 59 feet long.
2 Zhanjiajie, China (opened July 2016) Longest, highest. Highest/deepest bungee jump planned. Nearly 1000 feet long/span.
3 Tower Bridge glass floor, London, England.
Trying to type the name of the place in China, I looked several times and had to correct what I first typed.
z - h a n g - j i a - j i e
I have been forced to insert spaces to prevent the automatic correction system changing the syllables.
This is not a guide to the pronunciation, just a way of checking you have copied and typed it correctly.
http://www.cnto.org/worlds-longest-highest-glass-bottom-bridge-opening-in-zhangjiajie/
If you are aiming to see the world's highest or longest, you clearly aim at the one in China. If you are living in the USA, and want the nearest to visit, the shortest or quickest trip, or the cheapest or easiest to organise, you might opt for the one in the USA. You might also want to start with the one in the USA if you are afraid that you will not have the courage to cross it or want to start with the easy one and work up your courage.
How safe are glass bridges? Is the glass as strong as metal or other non transparent material. Is the glass reinforced? Will the bridges remain intact in a gale, survive erosion of man-made parts, or disintegration of supporting earth and rock over time, under the weight of you or me, under the weight of large numbers of people crossing?
Imagine you are one of the first to cross the bridge, and it cracks!
http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/new-glass-bridge-in-china-cracks-causing-panic-among-visitors-apple-daily
I also wonder how they keep it clean. Thinking of the mess made on my conservatory windows and house windows, how do you keep the glass clean? Presumably you need a maintenance programme. All those muddy footsteps, bird droppings, spiders' webs, scraping and scratching from shoes and metal tipped boots, blowing leaves and sand, melting snow or rain leaving streaks?
In order to reassure tourists (and probably safety authorities and investors) and make amusing, newsworthy photos, the glass bottomed bridges have been hit by sledge-hammers and had heavy vehicles driven across the bridge. Plus people being sick, having incontinence or diarrhoea, dropping ice cream and litter, losing their hats and drinks cans, sandwiches snatched by birds. Heart attacks mid-way.
What can you do with a trip to the bridge?
Challenge yourself.
Challenge your friends and family.
Prove your courage.
Act big to impress a scared younger sibling or girlfriend.
Act protective to reassure a scared younger sibling, child, your children, or a girlfriend.
Propose marriage in a memorable place.
Have a wedding ceremony.
What about scattering ashes? Probably not allowed.
Lots of articles, images, and videos on youtube.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-37127725
http://www.towerbridge.org.uk/tower-bridge-glass-floor/
The latest glass bridge in China replaced the former wooden bridge. I tell myself I will only photograph it. Would I be willing to cross the bridge, and pay for the privilege. Once across, do you have to come back? Do you need to go all the way across then come back, or could you go to the mid point for a photo and then return?
If a bridge links an island, you have to come back. If it crosses a valley, you may be forced to cross with your group if everybody crosses and continues there journey from the other side. I remember in Canada crossing a bouncing rope bridge. You take a few steps and then somebody enters behind you and the bridge starts swinging and bouncing. In London we have a pedestrian bridge towards the Tate Modern art gallery, which bounced when it first opened, sending people into a panic. Presumably a big glass bridge is more solid.
If you just want to enjoy a view over the world from the comfort of your chair, here's a 360 degree view from Tower Bridge, London.
http://www.towerbridge.org.uk/Glass-floor-360/
Angela Lansbury, author and travel writer and photographer
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