Glass Bottom Bridge in China

China’s latest glass bottom bridge has been newly accessible to the public since September 2014. It is basically a hanging bridge made of glass and it is about three hundred meters long connecting two rocky peaks. It is suspended 180 meters above a valley in Pingjang, China. Pingjiang county is found in the Hunan province which is located in the south-central part of China.

The bridge offers a spectacular view of the valley beneath it as well as the surrounding natural beauty. It also sways when there is a breeze. There is no doubt of the absolute terror induced in some people at the mere thought of walking on that bridge and seeing everything below as if suspended in air. Others may be prone to panic attacks. It is definitely not a walk for the faint- hearted. A spokesperson from the tourism board has admitted that the bridge was designed to “shatter but not break” in the eventuality that a rock from one of the nearby mountain cliffs should fall upon it.

Walking on the bridge would certainly constitute a heart-stopping moment for most people. You can just imagine your feet treading on the expanse of glass while witnessing every bit of scenery 180 meters down and trying to control your panic at the thought of falling through the abyss. Such a situation normally elicits a freeze or flight reaction from most people. Consequently there are special staffs designated in order to handle people who cannot move forward or display intense emotional reactions due to being unable to cope with the stress of walking to the other side of the bridge. These staffs provide the much needed emotional support by gently coaxing and providing encouragement to the people in order for them to continue their journey across. They are specially trained to handle such situations. They can easily talk to fear-stricken tourists who are stock-still on the bridge to find the daring to advance from where they are stuck. A spokesperson has admitted to telling the tourists to think about the individual who cleans underneath the glass and how painfully frightening it is for that person to accomplish his job. This usually convinces the people that they can overcome their fear while being in a much better position on top of the glass

One can only imagine what happens when the bridge sways. It would probably cause several people to shout in panic and try to find a stable foothold but unfortunately for them, the bridge only offers extreme sensations and no guaranteed stability whatsoever unless they are able to reach safe ground by crossing over to the other extremity.

It is most certainly an experience that will not be erased from the memory of a person for a long time. It offers the thrill of a lifetime for some people but is most importantly a heart-racing achievement for the most daring and can be considered as an extreme adventure. While it is most certainly scary for some, others delight in the kinds of sensations triggered by the experience.

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