The Aizhai suspension bridge in China – in pictures The world's highest and longest tunnel-to-tunnel bridge has opened to traffic in Hunan province, central China. The Aizhai suspension bridge links two tunnels 1,176 metres apart, carrying traffic 355 metres above the foot of Dehang Canyon. Construction of the bridge started in October 2007 and its main sections were completed at the end of last year. It is designed to help ease traffic in the mountainous region, where queues are common due to the narrow, steep and winding roads
Mon 2 Apr 2012 11.30 EDT
Aizhai is the world's highest and longest tunnel-to-tunnel bridgePhotograph: Quirky China News/Rex Features
Share on Facebook It spans 1,176 metres and is the 12th longest suspension bridge in the worldPhotograph: Top Photo Corporation/Rex
Share on Facebook Photographers line up to capture pictures of the bridge at duskPhotograph: ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images
Share on Facebook Visitors take a look at the bridgePhotograph: Imaginechina/Corbis
Share on Facebook Vehicles and pedestrians cross the bridge during the spring festivalPhotograph: Quirky China News/Rex Features
Share on Facebook The bridge forms a key section of the Jishou-Chadong Expressway, which has 18 tunnels in total comprising about half of its lengthPhotograph: ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images
Share on Facebook The bridge has 1,888 lights to increase visibility at nightPhotograph: Quirky China News/Rex Features
Share on Facebook A section of the Aizhai suspension bridge during its constructionPhotograph: Top Photo Corporation/Rex Share on Facebook A worker paints part of the bridgePhotograph: Top Photo Corporation/Rex
Share on Facebook The bridge is 355 metres above the groundPhotograph: Quirky China News/Rex Features Share on Facebook Previously, a drive from one tunnel to the other took about half an hourPhotograph: AFP/Getty Images
Share on Facebook The Aizhai suspension bridge at nightPhotograph: ChinaFotoPress via Getty Images
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