Xiaozhai Bridge: A Majestic Miracle on the Western Xiangtian

In Xiaozhai Town, Jishou City, Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hunan Province, there is a super project-Xiaozhai Bridge – that spans the Dezhan Grand Canyon. It is not only a feat of transportation construction, but also an iconic landscape and tourist destination in western Hunan, attracting tourists from all over the world. ​

1. Basic overview​

The Xiaozhai Bridge is a super—large bridge on the Changsha-Chongqing expressway and the Jishou-Chadong Expressway, and it is also a key control project of the Baotou-Maoming Expressway. The bridge is about 20 kilometers away from the city of Jishou. It starts from the Potou Tunnel in the west, crosses the Grand Canyon of Deram in the upper, and reaches the Xiaozhai No. 3 Tunnel in the east. The total length of the line is 1,779 meters, and the total length of the main bridge is 1,414 meters. The main span adopts a 1,176-meter single-span simple steel truss suspension bridge. The height of the bridge deck from the valley floor is 355 meters. It is a 1,176-meter single-span simple steel truss suspension bridge with a deck height of 355 meters.A dual-purpose bridge for double-decker roads and sightseeing passages, with a four-lane expressway on the upper level, with a design speed of 80 kilometers per hour. With a total investment of 1.283 billion yuan, the project started construction on October 28, 2007 and opened to traffic on March 31, 2012. ​

2. The history of construction and the wonders of the world​

In order to change the backward traffic situation in western Hunan, Hunan Province decided to build the Jicha Expressway, and the Short Village Grand Canyon became a difficulty that must be overcome. Faced with world-class problems such as dangerous terrain, complex geology, changeable weather, and extremely difficult high-altitude erection operations, the construction team did not flinch. In 2004, a team of more than 30 people went to the Grand Canyon of Deram to investigate the site; in 2007, ground was officially broken. During the construction process, they created four ‘world firsts”: the world’s first span across the canyon; the first time a structural design scheme with completely separated towers and beams was adopted; the first time a rock anchor sling structure was adopted, and carbon fiber was used as the prestressed rib material; the first time the “rail slip method” was used to erect steel stringers. Finally, the main project was completed in December 2011, and it was opened to traffic in 2012, allowing the Hunan-Chongqing Expressway to run through the entire line, greatly shortening the travel time from Changsha to Chongqing. In the past, it took at least 16 hours to drive, and it only took 8 hours after the opening of the line. ​

3. Travel introduction​

(1) Core landscape​

1. The bridge itself: Standing on the sightseeing passage or viewing platform on the bridge, you can feel the majesty of the bridge up close. The design of the bridge tower incorporates the bull’s head pattern that the local Tujia and Miao ethnic groups regard as worship objects and mascots. The horn-shaped bridge tower facing the two mountains is integrated with the tensioned arc suspension cable, which is very visually impactful. At night, about 2,000 lights are lit up, and the bridge is like a bright dragon under the light, reflecting the night in the canyon. ​　　

　2.Short-walled winding highway (Wonders of Short-walled Highway):

The short-walled winding highway under the bridge is a veritable “wonders of short-walled highway”. In areas with a horizontal distance of less than 100 meters and a vertical height difference of 440 meters, a 6-kilometer-long highway with 13 large bends has been built with dense corners and steep slopes. It can be called a classic in the history of highway construction. It used to be the only way from Hunan to Chongqing, and it needs to be traveled carefully and slowly. Now, together with the Xiaozhai Bridge, it forms a unique landscape of the “Tianqian Changtong”. In contrast, it shows the changes of the times and the huge leap forward in transportation development. It shows the changes of the times and the development of transportation. ​

3. Cliff plank road: As one of the core experience projects of the Xiaozhai Bridge Scenic Area, the cliff plank Road is close to the east side of the bridge, relying on the construction of the canyon and mountains, and connected to the sightseeing passage of the bridge, forming a three-dimensional tour route of “viewing the scenery on the bridge and the gorge on the plank road”. The total length of the plank road is about 1.5 kilometers, with an altitude difference of nearly 400 meters. Some sections of the road are close to the vertical cliffs. There is a transparent glass observation deck on the outside. Standing on the platform, it seems to be suspended above the canyon. The scenery at the bottom of the valley has a panoramic view. At the foot of the mountain is the winding road of the short village, and beside it is the speeding traffic of the bridge, which is thrilling.Coexist with magnificence.

(2) Ticket information​

Ticket prices for the Xiaozhai Bridge Scenic Area will be distinguished according to different tours and groups of people：​

• General tickets (including elevator escalators): Adult tickets are generally 115 yuan; children aged 14 (inclusive) to 18 (not included), and seniors aged 60 (inclusive) to 65 (not included) can enjoy a half-price discount, the fare is about 62.5 yuan. ​

• Package ticket: The price of the package ticket combined with the Cliff Plank Road and the Rongjiang painting boat in the ancient city of Ganzhou varies. For example, the Xiaozhai Bridge (including elevator escalator) + Cliff Plank Road + the Rongjiang painting boat in the ancient City of Ganzhou, the adult ticket is 198 yuan. There are also a variety of packages including Dezhan Fantasy (including Dezhan Canyon + Xiaozhai Bridge + Cliff Plank Road + scenic cross-linking ticket) to choose from. The specific price can be found on official ticketing platforms such as . ​

• Preferential policies: Fresh college entrance examination students in 2025 can enjoy the benefits of free tickets (including elevator escalators) to the Grand Canyon, Xiaozhai Bridge, Cliff Plank Road, and Jidou Miaozhai. In addition, people such as children under 1.2 meters, the elderly aged 65 and above, etc., usually also enjoy the ticket-free policy (some items may require additional charges), but it is recommended to consult the latest discount details through the official account of the scenic area or by phone before traveling. ​

3. Precautions for Touring​

1. Safety aspects: Tourists traveling by car need to be extra careful when passing through the winding road of Xiaozhai. The road is curved and steep, and the speed should be controlled. When visiting the bridge sightseeing passage and the cliff plank road, do not crowd and push, and do not climb over the railings when taking pictures to avoid accidents. ​

2. Wear equipment: If you want to take the cliff plank road, it is recommended to wear non-slip shoes; the weather in the mountains of western Hunan is changeable, and the temperature difference between day and night is sometimes large. Even in summer, you can bring a thin coat; If you go in winter, you need to prepare a thick down jacket, crampons and other cold-proof and non-slip equipment; tourists who like to take pictures, wear brightColor clothing can take more colorful photos against the background of bridges and canyons. ​

3. Peak travel: Holidays are the peak tourist season, and there are many tourists. It is recommended to enter the park before 8 o’clock in the morning, which can effectively avoid the peak flow of people, get a better tour experience, and reduce the waiting time in line. ​

4. Environmental protection: The ecology of the scenic area is fragile. Please carry garbage bags with you during the tour to take the garbage out of the scenic area; do not disturb the wild animals in the canyon, and jointly protect this beautiful natural environment.