NEWS SUMMARY
China has opened the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, the world’s highest bridge from deck to ground, at 625 metres (2,050 feet) above the Beipan River gorge in Guizhou province. The bridge was built in just over three years and reduces a two-hour detour to just two minutes, improving travel in the mountainous region. It also has one of the largest spans ever built in a mountainous area and is part of the new expressway, bringing major improvements to economic development in the region. The bridge will also attract tourists with features like a sightseeing elevator, viewing platforms and sky cafés.
Source: Firstpost
ACTIVITY 1
Before sharing the news summary with students, ask them whether they know the following. The answers are provided in brackets. Ask students whether they have visited or would like to visit any of the places. Then, share the summary above with the students.
- the tallest building in the world (Burj Khalifa, UAE)
- the longest wall in the world (the Great Wall of China)
- the tallest tower in the world (Tokyo Skytree, Japan)
- the largest building by volume in the world (The Boeing Factory in Everett, US)
- the tallest bridge in the world (from deck to ground – Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, China; by the height of its physical structure – Millau Viaduct, France)
ACTIVITY 2
Show students the video of the bridge and ask them to discuss the questions.
- Does it surprise you that it took three years to build this bridge?
- How might a bridge like this change life for people in nearby towns and villages?
- Would you feel safe driving across a bridge this high?
- Do you think building in extreme places (like deep gorges or mountains) is worth the cost?
- Do you think record-breaking structures are mainly built for practical reasons or for prestige?
- Are there any big bridges or other major infrastructure projects being built in your country?
- Which is more impressive to you: ancient structures like the pyramids or modern structures like this bridge? Why?
GLOSSARY
- gorge – a deep valley in the mountains
- deck – the flat surface of a bridge where cars or people travel
