The Ruyi Bridge in Shenxianju is now the biggest and craziest attraction of Zhejiang Province in China. Now, the bridge has become a viral phenomenon as videos and images of it started appearing on social media as people explain how they felt as they tried to summon the courage to cross this bridge, which resides about 460 feet above a massive ravine.
Many people on social media are in disbelief of the bridge’s whacky design.
One social media commentator asked: “IS IT REAL?!?!”
One Youtube channel titled Oriental Image said that “The ‘Ruyi Bridge’ in the Shenxianju Scenic Area in Xianju county is shaped like a jade Ruyi in the sky, attracting many tourists to take pictures, Taizhou City, East China’s Zhejiang Province, 17 October 2020.” The aerial footage of the bridge was uploaded to YouTube at the beginning of November 2020.
Ruyi Bridge is at the Shenxianju Scenic Area near Taizhou in Zhejiang province on the country’s east coast. The bridge’s design was thought to be too far-fetched when it was first announced in 2017, but after opening last year it has now welcomed thousands of tourists.
Inspired by jade ruyi, which symbolizes power and good fortune in Chinese folklore, the 140m-high structure is three bridges with a deck partially made from glass.
The park explained in a post on social platform Weibo that “intertwined into an undulating bridge body, visitors have a sense of experience when they pass”.
“The rigid and soft shape is perfectly integrated with the natural scenery of the Fairy House, just like a jade ruyi in the sky, and like a fairy draped silk. The painting is like a screen, and when seen from a distance, the mountains are full of movement, and they also carry beauty and auspiciousness.”
Arquitectura Viva confirmed that the bridge was designed by He Yunchang. As a steel expert, he was the person who helped create the iconic Beijing’s Bird’s Nest Stadium for the 2008 Olympics.
Not only is the Ruyi Bridge windy, but it is also one of the highest bridges in the world. The bridge opened to the world in September 2020 and has already hosted more than 200,000 visitors.
Below are some of the comments from viewers across the world from Daily Mail after they made an article about the Ruyi bridge:
“A solid no.”
“Just looking at the photos would give me nightmares.”
“Omg, no way would I cross that. It’s my worst nightmare.”
“China making awesome things, and here we canceling everything.”
“I might consider it on virtual reality, but even then, probably not.”
“Try walking on Rainbow Bridge built into the rock over the Grand Canyon, with a sheer drop of hundreds of feet. That’s another leap of faith.”
“Clever, no doubt, but why ruin such a beautiful location with something so obtrusive?”
Other readers expressed their concern because the bridge was made in China.
“I don’t trust anything made in China.”
“Based on my experience of China cheapies, I’m guessing the bridge was straight when made and then warped out of shape within a week or two…”
“Having seen (on LiveLeak) numerous videos of people being swallowed by collapsing Chinese escalators and similar examples of failing Chinese engineering, I would give this bridge a miss.”
“While China is busy building and innovating, British are busy pulling down Statue.”
If you’re brave enough and like adventures like this, try the Ruyi bridge.
Sources: AWM, Vacations Travel, Snopes, Traveller
