January 27, 2016: Deck glass installation begins
On January 27, 2016, installation of the deck glass on the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge in Hunan began, and the first pane was successfully installed. After installation was complete, construction workers happily jumped on the glass surface, using this direct method to test the glass's load-bearing performance.
For people following Zhangjiajie, this day was a milestone: the glass bridge moved from main bridge construction into the deck paving stage, one step closer to opening to visitors.
Deck glass: 99 panes, about 5cm thick
According to the construction plan at the time, the entire deck would be paved with 99 panes of fully transparent laminated glass about 5cm thick. Of these, 75 panes measured 4.2 meters long and 3.05 meters wide, and 24 panes were other irregular shapes.
Laminated glass is made by bonding multiple layers of glass with interlayer film; even if a single layer breaks, the fragments stay stuck to the film and will not fall away as a whole — this is why this material was chosen for the deck. All glass was expected to be laid within two weeks, and the entire glass surface would carry a load of at least 60 tons.
The bridge itself: 430 meters long, 300 meters high
The Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge is 430 meters long in total and 6 meters wide, with the deck about 300 meters above the valley floor. With ten "world bests" including the world's longest, the world's highest, and the world's first large bridge to use glass as a main load-bearing structure, it became a model of international bridge construction.
It should be noted that here glass is not merely a "panel" laid on the deck but participates in the main load-bearing structure, which is what distinguishes it from ordinary glass viewing platforms. According to the plan at the time, the glass bridge was expected to open to the global public before this year's "May Day" holiday.
Same day: full road access on the Wulingyuan mountain
On the same day there was another piece of news more directly relevant to visitors: at 1:20 pm that day, full road access was restored on the mountain in the core Wulingyuan Scenic Area of Zhangjiajie, and sections previously closed due to ice resumed normal traffic.
When mountain roads ice over in winter, the scenic area temporarily closes some sections; restored access means shuttle-bus transfers between the various mountain areas run smoothly again, and itineraries no longer need extra time set aside for detours.
Practical tips
- The forest park uses timed, station-by-station real-name reservations; within the 4-day ticket validity, every entry requires an advance reservation and on-time entry, so please arrive at your station during your reserved time slot.
- For first visits or trips with elderly people and children, the East Gate (Wulingyuan landmark gate) is recommended; Wulingyuan town is right outside, convenient for dining, lodging and transfers.
- To hike Jinbian Stream, choose the South Gate (Forest Park ticket station), with the stream entrance right at the gate; to save effort and go straight to the mountaintop areas, the North Gate is an option.
- In-park transport such as the Bailong Elevator, Tianzi Mountain Cableway and Shili Gallery mini-train requires separate tickets; try to plan "elevator up, cableway down" to avoid backtracking.
- Mountain weather is changeable, and cableways and trails may temporarily stop due to strong wind or ice; follow the scenic area's announcements of the day and leave flexibility in your itinerary.
Current standards in effect
From January 1, 2025, the Wulingyuan core scenic area abolished the peak/off-peak price difference, with a unified ticket of 165 yuan per person, valid for 4 consecutive days. In-scenic transport (shuttle buses, etc.) is 71 yuan and personal accident insurance is 3 yuan, totaling 239 yuan for the three items. This site treats the 3 yuan insurance as complimentary, so visitors pay 236 yuan in practice. It should be noted that 165 yuan is only the ticket price itself, excluding scenic transport and insurance, so there is no need to be puzzled by the three figures 165, 236 and 239 — they refer to different scopes.