China opens world’s highest glass bridge

China opened the world’s highest and longest glass-bottomed bridge to visitors in Hunan province on Saturday.

The 1,410 feet (430 metre) bridge spans the Zhangjiajie Canyon in Hunan and is suspended 300 metres above ground. It allows visitors to peer down into the abyss through 99 triple-layered glass panels.

The glass bridge hangs from two cliffs in the Tianmen Mountain National Park, known for being the inspiration behind the towering landscapes in the Hollywood sci-fi blockbuster ‘Avatar’. The bridge cost $3.4 million to build.

According to officials, the six metre-wide bridge, designed by Israeli architect Haim Dotan, has set world records for its architecture and construction, BBC news reported.

A series of ‘safety tests’ were conducted in June, where one panel of glass was repeatedly cracked by sledgehammer-wielding men and women to try and reassure the public of the bridge’s safety.

A maximum of 8,000 visitors will be allowed on the bridge each day, official said.