World's longest glass bridge built in Zhangjiajie

Photo taken on Dec 3, 2015 shows the glass bridge in construction at the grand canyon of Zhangjiajie, Central China's Hunan province. [Photo/Xinhua] More photos

CHANGSHA -- The final beam of the world's longest and highest glass bridge was laid on Thursday.

While not an activity for the faint of heart, those with a stomach for heights can now walk across the 400-meter deep Grand Canyon at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Central China's Hunan province, on glass.

The 430-meter long, 6-meter wide bridge is also the world's longest open space suspension bridge, and boasts the world's steepest ziptreck and highest Bungee platform.

The bridge will be open to the public by May 1, 2016.

Chen Zhidong, from Zhangjiajie Scenic Area Management Co.,explained that the structure has undergone nearly 100 safety tests to ensure it can support the weight of 800 people.

More than 70 glass balls, each weighing 750 kg, have been installed to counter sympathetic vibration, explained Wan Tianbao, a chief engineer with the project.

Wan said the glass had passed wind, slippage and temperature resistance tests.

Zhangjiajie also boasts another all-glass bridge that suspends 180 meters above anther canyon. After it was opened to the public in September this year, it was so popular that visitor numbers were limited to 10,000 a day over safety concerns.

Zhangjiajie inspired the scenery in the hit movie "Avatar," and members of the production team spent time among the pillar-like mountains taking notes and sketches that would inform many elements of the animation.