2012 Eric Sakowski - Revision history

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Sakowski: Created page with '
Events of 2012

China 2012 High Bridge Trip

The…'

2015-04-01T09:02:32Z

Created page with '<div style="text-align: center; font-size: 25px;"> Events of 2012<br /> </div> <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 25px;"> China 2012 High Bridge Trip<br /> </div> The…'

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<div style="text-align: center; font-size: 25px;">
Events of 2012<br />
</div>

<div style="text-align: center; font-size: 25px;">
China 2012 High Bridge Trip<br />
</div>

The following images were all taken during the "China 2012 Yangtze River Bridge Tour" that took place during the month of August in several Western China Provinces. Bridge fans Roger Perrin of Great Britain and Georges of France joined me on HighestBridges.com's second ever 3 week tour to experience almost 100 of the world's longest bridge spans that included visits to half of the world's 20 longest suspension and cable stayed bridges. The adventurous journey took us along 2,000 miles / 3,500 kilometers of roads and highways with bridge engineer Jiang Changiang and driver Mr. Chen.

The trek along the Yangtze took place in more urban environments making for some navigation challenges that we did not encounter in the more rural regions of the 2011 trip. We often found ourselves traveling along roads that were not yet on our GPS map tracker while at other times a clearly marked road had been blocked or was no longer in existence - wiped off the map due to some new mega high-rise development that did not exist just a year earlier.

The special spans visited during the first week included Chaotianmen, Dongshuimen, Hejiang, Huangyi, Qiancao, Nanqi and the Jialing River Bridges as well as countless others across the Yangtze River.

[[File:2ChaotianmenByMrChen copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Our journey began in Chongqing City - the "Pittsburgh" of China with an amazing collection of bridges including Chaotianmen Bridge, the largest arch in the world at 552 meters. From left to right are Georges, myself (with rabbit ears), engineer interpreter Jiang Changjiang and Roger Perrin. Image by Mr. Chen

[[File:4DafosiGeorges copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Dafosi Bridge was one of the first cable stayed spans in the Chongqing City region opening in 2001 with a main span of 450 meters. Image by Georges.

[[File:3ChaotianmenArch2 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Flooding was so extensive from rain several days prior that the level of the Yangtze was at 177 meters in Chongqing City or 2 meters above the full 3 Gorges reservoir level of 175 meters. This was surprising given the water level at the dam several hundred kilometers downstream was only at 157 meters. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:5ChongqingBuildingsByGeorges.jpg|750px|center]]
Some of the hundreds of Chongqing skyscrapers. Image by Georges.

[[File:6DongshuimenByJiang copy.jpg|750px|center]]
The new Chongqing metro line crossing of the Jialing and Yangtze Rivers necessitated the construction of two separate cable stayed bridges known as Dongshuimen and Qianximen that are separated by a long curving tunnel. The towers were carefully designed by the Chongqing offices of T.Y. Lin International to have a curvilinear shape in all directions that give them a beautiful, signature look despite the extra cost. Image by Jiang Changjiang.

[[File:7Dongshuimen10 copy.jpg|450px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:8Dongshuimen12 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:Qianximen2.jpg|750px|center]]
Qianximen crosses the Jialing River with just one central tower. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:Qianximen5.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:QianximenBuildings.jpg|750px|center]]
Part of this beautiful group of buildings in going to have to be demolished for the south end of the Qianximen bridge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:JialingRiverMouth.jpg|750px|center]]
The mouth of the Jialing River showing the water at full height some 177 meters above sea level. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:12ChongqingBoatsByJiang copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Jiang Changjiang

[[File:13ChongqingBoatGeorges copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Georges.

[[File:14ChaotianmenBoatJiangChen copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Our cruise boat had no fancy chandeliers but the outdoor view was perfect. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:15ChaotianmenDragonBoat copy.jpg|750px|center]]
A view of the deluxe boat complete with neon dragons and an ICBC bank sign. ICBC became my ATM of choice for most of the trip. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:16JialingNightView copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:17ChongqingBreakfast copy.jpg|750px|center]]
A big breakfast before our first full day of bridging! Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:18ShibanpoByGeorges copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Georges.

[[File:19CaiyuanbaArchByGeorges copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Georges.

[[File:20CaiyuanbaDriveOver copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:21EgongyanDriveOver copy.jpg|750px|center]]
With a span of 600 meters, E'gongyan is most notable for the tower tops with their signature suspension bridge "logo". Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:22EgongyanLonglens copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:23EgongyanWaterfront2 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:24LijiatuoByGeorges copy.jpg|750px|center]]
One of the earliest bridges in Chongqing, the Lijiatuo Bridge opened in 1995 with a main span of 444 meters. Image by Georges.

[[File:25LijiatuoUnderside copy.jpg|450px|center]]
The underside of the deck is beginning to show its age. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:27LijiatuoAreaHouse copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Some locals live in makeshift buildings along the river banks below the Lijiatuo Bridge. They don't have much but welcomed us in their homes. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:28MasangxiGeorges copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Masangxi Bridge is just over 10 years old and has a main concrete deck span of 360 meters. Image by Georges.

[[File:29MasangxiRiverView copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:31MasangxiTowerTop copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

<div style="font-size: 25px; text-align: center;">
Jiang Visits The River of His Family Name<br />
</div>
[[File:32YudongJiang copy.jpg|750px|center]]
With a Chinese name like Jiang Changjiang, you have to wonder what the odds are that such a person would be touring the bridges that cross a river with the same name. Jiang's last name of "Changjiang" is the actual Chinese word for the Yangtze River! Such a coincidence made me attempt to photograph Jiang in front of all 80 Yangtze bridge crossings. We did not quite succeed given Jiang had to leave the trip after the second full week but he still managed to stand in front of more then 50 Yangtze crossings. Who knows, maybe someday Jiang will design a bridge that crosses the river that bears his family's name! Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:33YudongRiverSpan copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Yudong Bridge might look ordinary but this bridge demands respect as it is the longest double span beam bridge on earth with two back to back concrete behemoths of 260 meters. This is even more impressive when you consider a double track monorail metro line will be traveling down the center in 2013 to join the 8 highway lanes that opened in 2008. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:34YudongRoadRail copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by www.huashphoto.com

[[File:35YudongMetroApproaches copy.jpg|750px|center]]
The monorail metro approaches under construction just north of the Yudong Bridge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:37BaishatuoLonglens2 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:38DiweiGeorges copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Completed in 2004, the narrow Diwei cable stayed bridge is unusual in that it was built for a local mining operation and is not open for the public to use. The main span is 345 meters. Image by Georges.

[[File:39DiweiDeck copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:40DiweiLonglens copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Two unmarked lanes carry nothing but truck traffic. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:DiweiTower.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:41GuanyinyanGeorges copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Guanyinyan is a wide, steel deck cable stayed bridge with a main span of 436 meters. Image by Georges.

[[File:42GuanyinyanSteelDeck2 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:43GuanyinyanYangtze copy.jpg|750px|center]]
The Yangtze water level was unusually high from flooding in the days prior to our visit. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:44GuanyinyanByJiang copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Jiang Changjiang.

[[File:45FengangwuanByJiang copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Jiang Changjiang.

[[File:46FenfangwuanWide copy.jpg|750px|center]]
The Fenfangwuan Bridge will be completed in 2013 with a main span of 464 meters or about the same length as the Alex Fraser and Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridges in North America. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:47FenfangwuanLonglens5 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:48FenfangwuanDogCat copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:49FenfangwuanWorker copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:50FenfangwuanPieces copy.jpg|750px|center]]
The construction staging area below the Fenfangwuan Bridge had been flooded out just prior to our visit. Large bridge sections were tossed around like toys and damaged. Some pieces will probably be repaired while others might have to be completely re-manufactured. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:51FenfangwuanPieces2 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:53JiangjinBeam.jpg|750px|center]]
The Jiangjin Bridge's main span of 240 meters is not unusual in China but ranks longer then almost any beam span outside of the country. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:56HejiangArch3 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
The Hejiang arch with a humungous concrete filled steel tubular span of 500 meters. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:57HejiangByJiang copy.jpg|450px|center]]
Image by Jiang Changjiang.

[[File:58HejiangByGeorges copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Georges.

[[File:59HejiangElevation copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:60JiangChangjiang copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:61JiangChangjiangSide copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:62JiangChangjiangLonglens copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:66Tai'anTower copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:67Tai'anCables2 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:68Tai'anWide2 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:69Tai'anEricByGeorges copy.jpg|750px|center]]
The local fishermen were more prepared to walk in the mud then we were. Image by Georges.

[[File:70Tai'anByJiang copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Jiang Changjiang.

[[File:71BirdsGeorges copy.jpg|750px|center]]
No shortage of ducks in China! Image by Georges.

[[File:72HuangyiYangtze copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:73HuangyiYangtze4 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
The uneven tower design has resulted in the south tower measuring a lofty 210 meters tall or about 86.5 meters taller then the 123.5 meter north side tower. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:74HuangyiYangtzePiers copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:75DucksByGeorges copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Brown ducks anyone? Image by Georges.

[[File:76LuzhouBeamJiang copy.jpg|750px|center]]
The Luzhou Bridge is a rare type of bridge with the center third being a drop-in span. The 3 central spans of 170 meters opened in 1982. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:77LuzhouChineseUKGirl copy.jpg|750px|center]]
A local Luzhou girl with a British flag handbag is surprised to see some foreigners, especially one from the U.K.! Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:78QiancaoExtradosed copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Extradosed bridges are rare outside of Japan. Completed in 2011, the Qiancao is one of the largest of its type with a main span of 248 meters. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:79QiancaoJiangChen copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:81QiancaoDeck2 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:82QiancaoFence copy.jpg|750px|center]]
The flood currents on the Yangtze were so strong below the Qiancao Bridge that several handrail barriers were knocked over. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:83LuzhouCityArea copy.jpg|750px|center]]
The northern end of Luzhou City is a newer zone of upscale malls, skyscrapers and wide boulevards that are now typical of most Chinese cities where a huge migration is underway from the rural farming towns to the giant urban centers. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:84LuzhouRailwayByJiang copy.jpg|750px|center]]
The Luzhou Railway Bridge was completed in 2002 with 3 bulky prestressed beam spans of 144 meters. Image by Jiang Changjiang.

[[File:85LuzhouRailLonglens copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:86SecondLuzhouBeamJiang copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Completed in 2000 with a main span of 252 meters, the Second Luzhou Bridge had the longest beam span across the Yangtze river at that time. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:87Jiang'anJiang copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Not to be outdone, the nearby city of Jiang'an made their 2008 Yangtze beam crossing with a span of 253 meters - 1 meter longer then Luzhou's! Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:88NanqiByJiang copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Nanqi Bridge. Image by Jiang Changjiang.

[[File:89NanqiWide2 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:90NanqiAnchorage copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:91JinshaSteelArch copy.jpg|750px|center]]
This steel arch in Yibin marks the first non-Yangtze river crossing where the remaining upstream portion of the Yangtze is officially called the Jinsha Jiang. The Yangtze continues for well over a 1,000 more miles within mountainous provinces where bridge spans are generally under 100 meters. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:92JinshaSteelArch3 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:93JinshaConcreteArch copy.jpg|750px|center]]
This concrete arch was the very first bridge to cross the Jinsha Jiang in the city of Yibin. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:94JinshaConcreteArch2 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:95JinshaYangtzeJunction2 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
The Min and Jinsha rivers meet in front of this flooded plaza which marks the official beginning of the "Changjiang" River known to foreigners at the Yangtze. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:96JinshaRailwayBridge copy.jpg|750px|center]]
This large railway bridge and a nearby single tower cable stayed bridge mark the two most upstream crossings in the city of Yibin. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:97JinshaRailwayLonglens copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:98FootByJiang copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Jiang Changjiang.

[[File:99YibinJinshaTower copy.jpg|750px|center]]
A Yibin local takes a bath at the base of this flooded riverfront tower. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:100YibinBridge copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Completed in 2008, the Yibin cable stayed bridge is similar to Tai'an Bridge with very closely spaced stays. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:102YibinPipelineBridge copy.jpg|750px|center]]
The Yibin Pipeline Bridge carries 3 different sized pipes across a main span of 516 meters. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:103YibinPipelineBridge2 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:104YibinPipelineStays copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:105YibinPipelineLonglensView.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:YibinPipelineRogerGeorges.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:YibinPipelineTower3.jpg|450px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:106YibinTrailerWuling copy.jpg|750px|center]]
This truck measured an incredible 100 feet / 30 meters from end to end! Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:107YibinLongTruck copy.jpg|750px|center]]
The driver enjoys a rest in a hammock near the back end. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:109ShimenTraffic copy.jpg|750px|center]]
The Shimen Bridge was one of China's larger single tower cable stayed bridges when it was completed across the Jialing River in 1988 with two spans of 230 meters. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:ShimenTower2.jpg|450px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:110JialingBeam copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:111JialingBeam3 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
One of several giant beam bridges over the Jialing within Chongqing City, this 240 meter span monster carries the G75 expressway. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:112ShuangbeiByJiang.jpg|750px|center]]
Shuangbei has a main span of 330 meters. Image by Jiang Changjiang.

[[File:113ShuangbeiGeorgesWash copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Georges washes his shoes after stepping into the muddy riverbank. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:114ShuangbeiEricByGeorges.jpg|750px|center]]
Minutes later I did the same thing with my left shoe! Image by Georges.

[[File:115CaijiajialingMetroGeorges copy.jpg|750px|center]]
The Caijiajialing Bridge is one of the highest metro line bridges in the world carrying line 6 some 100 meters above the Jialing River. The narrow span measures 250 meters. Image by Georges.

[[File:116CaijiajialingMetroTowers copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:117CaijiajialingMetroTunnels copy.jpg|750px|center]]
The egg-shaped tunnels were required to accommodate the extra height of the elevated "mono" rail. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:118JiayueLonglens2 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Jiayue was the second big extradosed bridge of the trip with a main span of 250 meters. The elegant Y-shaped towers and slender deck are the handiwork of the famous engineering firm of T.Y. Lin International. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:119JiayueEricJiangByGeorges copy.jpg|750px|center]]
A pedestrian walkway under the road deck made for a nice stroll 80 meters above the river. Image by Georges.

[[File:120Jiayue24 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:121Jiayue28 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:122NearJiayue13 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
This new road viaduct near the Jiayue Bridge paralleled yet another metro line going north out of Chongqing City. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:123NearJiayue7 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:124NearJiayuePiers copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:125JialingRailwayBeam copy.jpg|750px|center]]
The Jialing River gorge has an impressive lineup of road and rail bridges near the city of Beibei. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:126JialingRailwayByJiang copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Jiang Changjiang.

[[File:127JialingRailwayBeam4 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:128JialingRailwayTruss2 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:129JialingRailwayTruss5 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:130JialingRailwayByJiang2 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Jiang Changjiang.

[[File:131JialingRailwayBeam9 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:132JialingSuspension10 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
This obsolete suspension bridge with 4 main offset cables was recently bypassed by an arch bridge. The central span is approximately 190 meters. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:133JialingSuspension6 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:137JialingArch5 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:138JialingArchLeft2 copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Can you count all 6 Jialing Bridge crossings? Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:139JialingArchWide copy.jpg|750px|center]]
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

[[File:140JialingG5001RingHwy.jpg|750px|center]]
The Jialing River G5001 Ring Highway Bridge has a central span of 240 meters. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:54, 7 April 2015
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	Events of 2012<br />		Events of 2012<br />
	</div>		</div>
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		+	<div style="text-align: center; font-size: 25px;">
		+	China Balinghe Bridge BASE Event<br />
		+	</div>
		+
		+
		+	[[File:1BalingheEventStage.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:2BalingheEventStage2.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Opening celebrations took place on a stage high along the Eastern slope where the old National Road crosses under the bridge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:3BalingheMedia.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	A news crew covers the event overlooking the deep Balinghe River canyon. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:3NewCrewJiang.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Jiang Changjiang.
		+
		+
		+	[[File:4SpectatorsOnRoad.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Thousands of spectators hiked to the event. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:5BalingheFoodVendors.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Dozens of food vendors were set up below the East tower. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:6HillsideSpectators.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:7BalingheStage.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Locals hiked along trails to claim a good vantage point beyond the main event stage area. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:8ChineseUmbrellas.jpg\|450px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:9BalingheRoadTrailJunction.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	The best place to view the event was at the bottom of the gorge, requiring a long hike along a local dirt farm road and some trails. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:19BalingheLandingFromRoad.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:10BalingheJumperLands.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:11BalingheLanding2.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:12Balinghe2Jumpers.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:13JumperLands.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:14JumpersInBoat2.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	To reach the landing area, jumpers, spectators and news crews were ferried across the river on an inflatable raft. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:15JumpersInBoat.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:16BalingheSWAT.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	China's own SWAT team was even present at the event! Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:17JumperLands3.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:18Landing.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:20JumperOnTrail.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:21ThousandsOnWestSlope.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:22JumperInterview2.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:23HurtJumper.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:24DislocatedLegJumper.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:25BoatRide.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:26BalingheLandingWideView.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:27BalingheTrailToBottom.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:28JumpersUpstream.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Two jumpers float towards the seemingly hidden landing area. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:29Balinghe&Balloons.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	The Balinghe event was the first of what would be 2 major 2012 BASE events at a Chinese Bridge. On September 16th a similar event was held at the Aizhai Bridge in nearby Hunan Province. Aizhai and Balinghe are the 2 most spectacular and accessible BASE jump bridges in China. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
-[[File:DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD.jpg|750px|center]]
+[[File:DimuheBridgeOffice.jpg|750px|center]]
 Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
-[[File:DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD.jpg|750px|center]]
+[[File:DimuheBorings2.jpg|750px|center]]
 Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
-[[File:DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD.jpg|750px|center]]
+[[File:DimuheSouthAnchorage&Engineers.jpg|750px|center]]
 Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
-[[File:DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD.jpg|750px|center]]
+[[File:DimuheFootbridgeFlag.jpg|750px|center]]
 Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
-[[File:DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD.jpg|750px|center]]
+[[File:DimuheFootbridgePlate.jpg|750px|center]]
 Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
-[[File:DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD.jpg|750px|center]]
+[[File:DimuheBridgeEngineers.jpg|750px|center]]
 Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:27, 7 April 2015
Line 2:		Line 2:
	Events of 2012<br />		Events of 2012<br />
	</div>		</div>
		+
		+
		+	<div style="text-align: center; font-size: 25px;">
		+	China Beipanjiang Bridge Duge Preview Tour<br />
		+	</div>
		+
		+
		+	[[File:Beipanjiang2016Alignment.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Alignment path of Beipanjiang Bridge Duge looking West to Yunnan. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:Beipanjiang2016CliffView2.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Guizhou side cliff where the Beipanjiang Bridge Duge will begin. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:Beipanjiang2016Engineers.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:Beipanjiang2016Houses.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:Beipanjiang2016GuizhouSide.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Beipanjiang Bridge Duge east tower location. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:Beipanjiang2016View.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:Beipanjiang2016YunnanView.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:Beipanjiang2016ZhouPing.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	<div style="text-align: center; font-size: 25px;">
		+	China Dimuhe Bridge Preview Tour<br />
		+	</div>
		+
		+
		+	[[File:DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
		+
		+
		+	[[File:DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD.jpg\|750px\|center]]
		+	Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:26, 5 April 2015
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	[[File:56HejiangArch3 copy.jpg\|750px\|center]]		[[File:56HejiangArch3 copy.jpg\|750px\|center]]
−	The ~~Hejiang~~ arch with a humungous concrete filled steel tubular span of 500 meters. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com	+	The Bosideng arch with a humungous concrete filled steel tubular span of 500 meters. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:03, 1 April 2015
Line 11:		Line 11:
	The following images were all taken during the "China 2012 Yangtze River Bridge Tour" that took place during the month of August in several Western China Provinces. Bridge fans Roger Perrin of Great Britain and Georges of France joined me on HighestBridges.com's second ever 3 week tour to experience almost 100 of the world's longest bridge spans that included visits to half of the world's 20 longest suspension and cable stayed bridges. The adventurous journey took us along 2,000 miles / 3,500 kilometers of roads and highways with bridge engineer Jiang Changiang and driver Mr. Chen.		The following images were all taken during the "China 2012 Yangtze River Bridge Tour" that took place during the month of August in several Western China Provinces. Bridge fans Roger Perrin of Great Britain and Georges of France joined me on HighestBridges.com's second ever 3 week tour to experience almost 100 of the world's longest bridge spans that included visits to half of the world's 20 longest suspension and cable stayed bridges. The adventurous journey took us along 2,000 miles / 3,500 kilometers of roads and highways with bridge engineer Jiang Changiang and driver Mr. Chen.

−	The trek along the Yangtze took place in more urban environments making for some navigation challenges that we did not encounter in the more rural regions of the 2011 trip. We often found ourselves traveling along roads that were not yet on our GPS map tracker while at other times a clearly marked road had been blocked or was no longer in existence - wiped off the map due to some new mega high-rise development that did not exist just a year earlier.	+	The trek along the Yangtze took place in more urban environments making for some navigation challenges that we did not encounter in the more rural regions of the 2011 trip. We often found ourselves traveling along roads that were not yet on our GPS map tracker while at other times a clearly marked road had been blocked or was no longer in existence - wiped off the map due to some new mega high-rise development that did not exist just a year earlier.
−
−
−	~~The special spans visited during the first week included Chaotianmen, Dongshuimen, Hejiang, Huangyi, Qiancao, Nanqi and the Jialing River Bridges as well as countless others across the Yangtze River~~.

@@ Line 190: / Line 190: @@
 [[File:46FenfangwuanWide copy.jpg|750px|center]]
-The Fenfangwuan Bridge will be completed in 2013 with a main span of 464 meters or about the same length as the Alex Fraser and Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridges in North America.  Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
+The Dingshan Bridge will be completed in 2013 with a main span of 464 meters or about the same length as the Alex Fraser and Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridges in North America.  Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
@@ Line 206: / Line 206: @@
 [[File:50FenfangwuanPieces copy.jpg|750px|center]]
-The construction staging area below the Fenfangwuan Bridge had been flooded out just prior to our visit.  Large bridge sections were tossed around like toys and damaged.  Some pieces will probably be repaired while others might have to be completely re-manufactured.  Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
+The construction staging area below the Dingshan Bridge had been flooded out just prior to our visit.  Large bridge sections were tossed around like toys and damaged.  Some pieces will probably be repaired while others might have to be completely re-manufactured.  Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 <div style="text-align: center; font-size: 25px;">
-China 2012 High Bridge Trip<br />
+China 2012 Yangtze River Bridge Trip<br />
 </div>