Hangzhou Bay Bridge

About

Hangzhou Bay Bridge (simplified, traditional, pinyin: Hángzhōu Wān Dàqiáo, Wu: Han-tseu-uae du-jiau) is a long 35.7 km (22.2 mi) highway bridge with two separate cable-stayed portions, built across the mouth of Hangzhou Bay in the eastern coastal region of China. It connects the municipalities of Jiaxing and Ningbo in Zhejiang province. Construction of the bridge was completed on June 14, 2007, and an opening ceremony was held on June 26, 2007. The bridge was opened to public May 1, 2008, after a considerable period of testing and evaluation. The bridge shortened the highway travel distance between Ningbo and Shanghai from 400 km (249 mi) to 180 km (112 mi) and reduced travel time from 4 to 2 hours. At 35.673 km (22 mi) in length, Hangzhou Bay Bridge was among the ten longest trans-oceanic bridges. It is not to be confused with "Outer Hangzhou Bay Bridge", a project under study which would ring the bay islands between Shanghai and Ningbo. An official name does not yet exist, hence the terminology clash.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.