Tourist narrowly avoids death after glass-bottomed bridge shatters

Tourist narrowly avoids death after glass-bottomed bridge shatters

A tourist has been rescued after becoming trapped on a 100-metre-high glass suspension bridge in China that shattered from gale-force winds.

Strong winds of up to 150 kilometres per hour tore pieces of glass decking from a suspension bridge built into a mountain on Friday, leaving a tourist clinging for his life.

According to The Straits Times, the tourist was able to crawl to safety guided by firefighters, police, forestry and tourism workers.

Though he sustained no injuries, the tourist was taken to hospital to receive psychological counselling.

Located on the Piyan Mountain in Longjing, China, the bridge is part of a growing trend in China’s mountain resorts, with reports indicating at least 60 similar glass suspension bridges had been built or were in the pipeline as of 2016.

Image source: iStock/GZMKS

The incident has sparked a fresh wave of concern in China about the safety of such bridges, with some calling for stricter regulations around how they are built.

“So many glass deck bridges have been built in recent years and are very popular with tourists. But how can we ensure their safety?” a user commented on Chinese social media, according to The Straits Times.

Technical standards have been released for the bridges by some local governments dictating where they can be built, with what materials and how many people can walk on them at a time, but there are reportedly few national standards.

Only some of the bridges are off-limits during bad weather.

Latest News

  • Aviation

Low-cost Indian carrier SpiceJet continues to burn cash

It’s not just low-cost Australian carriers that are facing hardship. SpiceJet, India’s version of Bonza, recently announced a 72 per cent reduction in its net loss versus last year. But, despite this improvement, the airline has posted losses for six straight years. But it has secured board approval to raise up to INR 30 billion […]

  • Attractions

SAKA Museum recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2024

AYANA Resort Bali’s newly-opened cultural and events centre, SAKA Museum has been recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places list for 2024. Part of AYANA Bali’s resort destination, the museum integrates Bali’s rich history with state-of-the-art facilities, making it the centrepiece for the island’s spiritual and cultural heritage. TIME magazine’s inclusion of SAKA Museum in […]

  • Cruise

Silversea taps Barbara Biffi as senior vice president for global sales

Ultra-luxury and expedition cruise travel brand, Silverseas, has announced Barbara Biffi as its new senior vice president of global sales. Biffi joined the company in 2007, holding numerous positions and gaining a deep understanding of the brand, the preferences of its guests and its strategic goals, the company said. An Italian national with a wealth […]

  • Technology
  • Travel Agents

Amadeus welcomes FCM Travel as new reseller partner of Cytric Easy

Cytric Easy, the travel management tool embedded in Microsoft Teams, is to be integrated into FCM Travel portfolio. Amadeus and FCM Travel have extended their Cytric distribution agreement to include Cytric Easy. With this new agreement, global travel management company FCM Travel, becomes a reseller of the innovative travel management collaboration solution embedded into Microsoft […]