The bridge is famous for the spectacular view it offers those crossing it.[3]
With a main span of 1,146 metres (3,760 ft) and a deck height of 336 metres (1,102 ft),[4] as of 2013[update], it is the thirteenth-highest bridge in the world and the world's nineteenth-longest suspension bridge. Of the world's 400 or so highest bridges, none has a main span as long as Aizhai.[5] It is also the world's highest and longest tunnel-to-tunnel bridge.[6] The bridge contains 1888 lights to increase visibility at night.[7]
Construction on the Aizhai Bridge began in October 2007 and was completed by the end of 2011, ahead of schedule.[8][9] The bridge was temporarily opened to pedestrians during the 2012 Spring Festival[9] and was formally opened to traffic in March 2012.[10]
The bridge was built with the assistance of a $208 million loan from the Asian Development Bank; the total project cost was $610 million, which included 64 kilometres (40 mi) of expressway construction (two thirds of which comprised bridge and tunnel) and upgrades to 129 kilometres (80 mi) of local roads.[11] The bridge and the associated road construction were projected to reduce the travel time between Jishou and Chadong from 4 hours to less than 1 hour.[11][12]
In September 2012, the Aizhai Bridge was the site of an international BASE jumping festival that included more than 40 jumpers from 13 countries.[13][14][15]
