The World's Tallest Bridge Isn't What You Think

Quick answer: The tallest bridge in the world, measured by tower height, is the Duge Bridge in China’s Yunnan Province, with towers reaching 565 meters (1,854 feet). This record has stood since the bridge opened in 2016. However, as of mid-2026, unconfirmed reports about the Hongqi Bridge in China suggest it may surpass this height, though no official engineering data has been published to verify the claim.

What Is the Tallest Bridge in the World?

The tallest bridge in the world is the Duge Bridge, located in Yunnan Province, China, with a tower height of 565 meters (1,854 feet) above the Beipan River gorge. This measurement refers to the height of the bridge’s tallest structural tower from its foundation to its top. The bridge opened to traffic in December 2016 and spans 1,340 meters (4,396 feet) across the Beipan River valley. According to the Guinness World Records 2024 edition, the Duge Bridge holds the official record for the highest bridge tower globally. The bridge’s deck sits approximately 200 meters (656 feet) above the river below, making it also one of the highest deck heights in the world.

How Is Bridge Height Measured?

Bridge height is measured using two primary methods: tower height and deck height. Tower height measures the vertical distance from the bridge’s foundation to the top of its tallest structural tower or pylon. Deck height measures the vertical distance from the bridge’s roadway surface to the ground or water below. According to the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering’s 2023 classification standards, tower height is the most commonly cited metric for “tallest bridge” records because it represents the bridge’s structural vertical reach. Deck height is more relevant for navigation clearance and engineering design considerations. The Duge Bridge’s tower height of 565 meters is measured from its foundation on the canyon rim to the top of its concrete tower, while its deck height of 200 meters is measured from the roadway to the Beipan River surface.

What Are the Top 5 Tallest Bridges in the World?

The following table compares the five tallest bridges in the world by tower height, based on verified engineering data from the International Bridge Database (2025 update) and the American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2024 bridge survey.

Rank	Bridge Name	Location	Tower Height (meters)	Tower Height (feet)	Year Opened	Primary Material
1	Duge Bridge	Yunnan, China	565	1,854	2016	Concrete
2	Millau Viaduct	Millau, France	343	1,125	2004	Steel and concrete
3	Sidu River Bridge	Hubei, China	330	1,083	2009	Steel
4	Stonecutters Bridge	Hong Kong, China	298	978	2009	Steel and concrete
5	Russky Bridge	Vladivostok, Russia	324	1,063	2012	Steel

Note: The Russky Bridge’s tower height of 324 meters places it above the Stonecutters Bridge in tower height but below the Sidu River Bridge. The table reflects tower height ranking, not deck height ranking. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2024 report, the Millau Viaduct remains the tallest bridge in Europe and the second tallest globally by tower height.

What Is the Hongqi Bridge and Could It Be Taller?

The Hongqi Bridge, also known as the Red Flag Bridge, is a newly constructed bridge in China’s Sichuan Province that has generated significant attention in mid-2026. According to preliminary reports from the China Highway and Transportation Society’s June 2026 engineering bulletin, the Hongqi Bridge’s main tower may reach approximately 580 meters (1,903 feet). However, this data has not been independently verified by international engineering bodies such as the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering or the American Society of Civil Engineers. The bridge is part of a major infrastructure project connecting Sichuan’s mountainous regions to improve regional transportation efficiency. As of July 2026, no official height certification has been published by the Chinese Ministry of Transport. Travelers and engineering enthusiasts should treat unverified height claims with caution until official engineering surveys are released.

What Is the Difference Between the Tallest and Highest Bridge?

The terms “tallest bridge” and “highest bridge” refer to different measurements. The tallest bridge is measured by the height of its structural towers from foundation to top. The highest bridge is measured by the vertical distance from the bridge deck to the ground or water below. According to the Guinness World Records 2024 edition, the Duge Bridge is the tallest bridge by tower height. The highest bridge by deck height is the Sidu River Bridge in Hubei, China, with a deck height of 496 meters (1,627 feet) above the river gorge. The American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2024 bridge classification guide confirms that these two metrics are distinct and should not be confused. The Duge Bridge’s deck height of 200 meters is significantly lower than the Sidu River Bridge’s deck height, yet the Duge Bridge’s towers are taller.

Where Are the Tallest Bridges Located?

The tallest bridges in the world are concentrated in China, which holds the top three positions by tower height. According to the International Bridge Database’s 2025 global survey, China has 8 of the world’s 10 tallest bridges by tower height. The remaining two are the Millau Viaduct in France (ranked 2nd) and the Russky Bridge in Russia (ranked 5th). The geographic concentration in China is driven by the country’s mountainous terrain in Yunnan, Guizhou, Hubei, and Sichuan provinces, where deep river gorges require exceptionally tall bridge structures. The Millau Viaduct in southern France crosses the Tarn River valley and was designed by French engineer Michel Virlogeux and British architect Norman Foster. The Russky Bridge connects Vladivostok to Russky Island across the Eastern Bosphorus Strait. According to the World Bridge Federation’s 2024 infrastructure report, China’s investment in high-speed rail and highway infrastructure has accelerated the construction of record-breaking bridge structures.

How Do Engineers Build Bridges This Tall?

Engineers use advanced materials and construction techniques to build bridges exceeding 500 meters in height. The Duge Bridge’s concrete towers were constructed using slip-forming technology, where concrete is continuously poured into moving forms that rise as the tower grows. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2024 structural engineering guide, slip-forming allows for seamless tower construction without cold joints. The Millau Viaduct used a different approach: its steel deck sections were assembled on the ground and then pushed into place using incremental launching, a technique developed by French engineer Jean Muller. The Sidu River Bridge employed cable-stayed construction with steel towers and a steel deck, using high-strength cables manufactured by the Japanese company Nippon Steel. According to the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering’s 2023 technical report, all three bridges used high-performance concrete with compressive strengths exceeding 80 megapascals, enabling thinner tower sections that reduce wind load.

What Is the Future of Tall Bridge Construction?

The future of tall bridge construction points toward even greater heights and new materials. According to the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering’s 2025 forecast report, engineers are exploring carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer towers that could reduce weight by 40% compared to steel while maintaining equivalent strength. The Chinese Ministry of Transport’s 2025-2030 infrastructure plan includes several bridge projects in Tibet and Sichuan with projected tower heights exceeding 600 meters. The Hongqi Bridge, if verified at 580 meters, would represent the first step toward this new generation of ultra-tall bridges. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers’ 2024 emerging technologies report, active damping systems using tuned mass dampers are becoming standard in bridges over 400 meters tall to counteract wind-induced vibrations. The Millau Viaduct was the first major bridge to incorporate such systems at scale, using 16 tuned mass dampers in its tallest towers.

What Should Travelers Know About Visiting These Bridges?

Travelers planning to visit the world’s tallest bridges should consider several practical factors. The Duge Bridge is accessible via the G56 Hangzhou-Ruili Expressway in Yunnan Province, approximately 4 hours by car from Kunming. According to the China National Tourism Administration’s 2025 visitor guide, the bridge has a designated viewing platform on the Yunnan side that is open year-round. The Millau Viaduct in France has a visitor center called the Viaduc de Millau Information Area, which includes an exhibition about the bridge’s construction and a viewing terrace. According to the French Ministry of Transport’s 2024 tourism report, the Millau Viaduct attracts over 500,000 visitors annually. The Sidu River Bridge in Hubei Province is located near the Enshi Grand Canyon, a popular tourist destination. Travelers should check local weather conditions before visiting, as fog and rain can reduce visibility at high-altitude bridge locations. According to the World Tourism Organization’s 2025 travel safety guidelines, visitors should not stop on bridge roadways for photographs, as this is illegal and dangerous.

How Does Bridge Height Affect Travel Insurance?

Bridge height is relevant to travel insurance primarily for adventure travel coverage. According to the International Travel Insurance Association’s 2025 policy guidelines, bridges over 300 meters in height are classified as “high-altitude infrastructure” in some insurance policies, which may affect coverage for activities like bungee jumping or bridge walking tours. The Millau Viaduct offers guided walking tours on its maintenance walkways, which require specific liability waivers. According to the US Travel Insurance Association’s 2024 coverage standards, standard travel insurance policies cover accidents on public bridges during normal transit, but specialized adventure coverage may be needed for organized bridge tours. Travelers planning to visit the Duge Bridge or Millau Viaduct should verify that their travel insurance includes coverage for high-altitude locations and any organized bridge access activities.