The Baijusi Yangtze River Bridge is open at night. (Photo/Zhang Kunkun)
Chongqing was verified to be the bridge capital of China by the Mao Yisheng Bridge Committee in 2005, thanks to the number, scale, sophistication, variety, and influence of its bridges. Currently, Chongqing has constructed over 20,000 bridges of various sizes, among which 105 are super bridges spanning the Yangtze and Jialing rivers.
The city boasts a diverse range of bridge types, including arch bridges, beam bridges, cable-stayed bridges, and suspension bridges, earning it the title "Bridge Museum."
Each bridge is aesthetically pleasing. For instance, the Baijusi Yangtze River Bridge caught the public's imagination with its futuristic design, drawing comparisons to "Star Trek" and becoming a viral sensation. The Huangjuewan Overpass has gained widespread attention, with five stories connecting more than 20 ramps and eight different roads.
Chongqing has created 17 world bridge records, including world-span records for beam and arch bridges, contributing its expertise to global bridge construction. At present, the city maintains nine bridges that hold the world's first place in span among their respective bridge types.
About 60 percent of Chongqing residents cross at least two bridges daily during their commute. With the rise in car ownership, Chongqing has expanded the construction of overpasses and pedestrian bridges to facilitate citizens' commuting and alleviate traffic pressure in the downtown area.