This was published 2 years ago
Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge now has world's highest bungy jump
Visitors to the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge can take a leap from a height of 260 metres.Credit: Getty Images
Straddled between two cliffs in China's Hunan province, a 430-metre glass-bottomed suspension bridge offers the world's highest bungy jump from a footbridge.
Visitors to the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge can take a leap from a height of 260 metres, a stomach-churning way to take in the views of the surrounding Wulingyuan wilderness, a UNSECO World Heritage site.
The area, a popular international tourist attraction, is famous for its quartzite sandstone pillars and peaks extending into the clouds, along with deep ravines and gorges.
Video: Jumping from the world's highest bungee bridge
The bungy jumping operation opened at the end of 2020, delayed by restrictions imposed by the Chinese government because of the coronavirus pandemic, which included some of the world's toughest border restrictions.
Operator Jonni Deaker said business had been building slowly as domestic tourists began to return to the region.
"We are probably averaging 20 jumps a day at the moment, which is pretty good for a jump this size," Deaker said, adding he was confident of a solid July-August holiday season.
Credit: Getty Images
To compensate for the lack of foreign tourists, the cost of a jump has been cut by around 40 per cent to RMB 1998 (roughly $A420).
The pedestrian bridge, designed by Israeli architect Haim Dotan and opened in August 2016, was once the longest glass-bottomed suspension bridge in the world.
Credit: Getty Images
Jumping into the abyss below might be terrifying for some, but Deaker believes the sheer height makes it less intimidating than smaller jumps.
"Because it's so high, it actually makes it easier", Deaker said. "When you're this high, it's kind of like skydiving."
The construction of novelty bridges is increasingly common in China: it's estimated there are over 2300 glass bridges in the country, along with "an undetermined number of glass walkways or slides" according to state media service ECNS. The country also boasts the world's longest suspension glass bridge in Guangdong province, at a height of 201 metres and spanning 526.14 metres.
In May, high winds in north-east China's Jilin province led to a glass bridge shattering, trapping an unlucky tourist 100 metres up on Piyan Mountain, Longjing.
After it shattered, pieces of glass from the bridge were picked up by the wind and travelled at speeds of up to 150km/h, according to a report from Chinese news agency Xinhua.
The trapped male tourist was forced to crawl to safety with the aid of firefighters, police and tourism personnel.
Reuters with Amelia McGuire
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