Address: Sky Bridge Scenic Area, Pingtang County, Qiannan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture
Transportation: Self-driving
Experience:
After a second visit to the Xiaoqikong (Small Seven-hole Arch) in the morning, I added a visit to the Sky Bridge Scenic Area on my way to the FAST (China's Sky Eye). The 90-kilometer drive from the scenic area takes about two hours. The scenery along the way is equally stunning. Before entering the bridge, there are signs directing you to the scenic area and the service area. The Sky Bridge service area features a hotel, camping area, viewing platform, and a bridge science museum, making it a perfect spot for photo opportunities and study.
Half of the top 100 world-class tallest bridges are in Guizhou, and four have won the Gustav Lindsahl Prize, the "Nobel Prize" of the world bridge community. Visiting Guizhou's bridges provides a compelling understanding of why China is known as an "infrastructure maniac."
The Pingtang Bridge, also known as the "Sky Bridge," features a bridge science museum on the second floor of the main service area. It explains the history of bridge development in China and offers a wealth of information about bridges. It also features some of the country's most famous bridges. Later in the trip, we also planned to visit the Baling River Bridge and the Beipan River Bridge.
We stopped for coffee, took photos, and flew our drones; it was truly relaxing.