Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge
430 meters of transparent glass, 300 meters above the canyon floor, and absolutely no way to avoid looking down. The first step is the hardest — after that, it is just a really long bridge with an extraordinary view through the floor.
At a Glance
Practical Information
| Location | Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, ~60 km from Wulingyuan |
| Bridge Only | ¥128 — 15-20 min walk across |
| Combo (Recommended) | ¥219 — Bridge + canyon hike + exit boat |
| Hours | 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Last entry 4:00 PM |
| Time Slots | 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30 |
| Booking | Must book a specific time slot online at least 1 day ahead. Walk-up tickets rarely available. |
| Restrictions | No selfie sticks · No drones · No large bags (free lockers) · No high heels · No tripods during busy periods |
By the Numbers
Records & Specifications
At its opening in August 2016, the bridge held multiple world records.
430m
Total bridge length — world's longest glass-bottom bridge at opening
6m
Bridge deck width — room for two-way pedestrian traffic
300m
Height above the canyon floor — equivalent to a 75-story building
6cm
Glass panel thickness — three laminated layers, each 2cm thick
800
Maximum visitor capacity at any one time
The Experience
What It Actually Feels Like to Walk on Glass 300m Up
The bridge itself is a flat walkway with glass panels set into the center lane. The glass is 6 cm thick — three layers of 2 cm tempered glass laminated together — and completely transparent. Both sides of the bridge have solid, opaque walkways for those who prefer not to look down.
Walking onto it the first time triggers a genuine adrenaline response, even if you are not afraid of heights. Your brain knows the glass will hold — 6 cm of laminated tempered glass rated for 800 kg per panel — but your body's survival instincts do not care about engineering specs. I have no fear of heights, and my first step onto the glass still made me hesitate.
We visited in April 2026 with an 8 AM time slot. By 8:30 the bridge was busy but not crowded; by 10 AM it was shoulder-to-shoulder. The experience is dramatically better with fewer people — you can stop mid-span, look down, and actually feel the height rather than being swept along by the crowd. The 8 AM slot gives you about 30 minutes of relative calm before the bulk of visitors arrive.
After the Bridge
Canyon Descent: Hike or Slide?
The bridge is just the start. After crossing, you reach the canyon floor by one of two routes.
Option A: Full Canyon Hike (2–2.5 hours)
After crossing the bridge, descend into the Grand Canyon via a stone staircase embedded in the cliff face. The trail follows a stream through narrow gorges, past several waterfalls, and ends at a boat dock deep in the valley. About 1,000 steps total — almost entirely downhill. Your knees will feel it the next day. At the end, a short boat ride (included in the CNY 219 combo) takes you across a lake to the exit.
Best for: hikers, photographers, anyone who wants to see the canyon from the bottom looking up
Option B: Canyon Slide + Boat (1 hour)
A 600-meter transparent tube slide (CNY 30 extra) spirals down from the bridge exit to the canyon floor. Genuinely fun and surprisingly fast — you control your speed with your feet. From the slide exit, a 10-minute walk leads to the same boat dock. Less scenic but much easier on the knees. We did the slide in April 2026 and would choose it again unless you specifically want the canyon walk.
Best for: families, anyone with knee issues, visitors short on time
Our full 3-day itinerary places the Glass Bridge on Day 3 and shows how the timing fits with the rest of your trip.
Adrenaline
Bungee, Zipline & More
The bridge isn't the only thrill. Four additional activities operate at the Grand Canyon site.
Bungee Jump
¥2,998285-meter drop from the bridge center — one of the world's highest commercial bungee jumps. Book on-site at the bridge. Weight limit: 35-100 kg. Not for the faint of heart: you free-fall toward the canyon floor before the cord catches.
Available: Year-round, weather permitting
Zipline
¥168300-meter zipline across a section of the canyon near the bridge. Less terrifying than the bungee but still delivers an adrenaline hit. Weight limit: 30-90 kg. Takes about 30 seconds from launch to landing.
Available: Year-round, weather permitting
Via Ferrata
¥128A protected climbing route along the canyon wall using steel cables and iron rungs. No climbing experience needed — you are clipped into a safety line the entire way. The route is about 400 meters long and takes 30-45 minutes. Helmets and harnesses provided.
Available: Mar–Nov only · Closed in winter (ice risk)
Glass Slide
¥30The 600-meter tube slide from bridge level to canyon floor. Not extreme — more of a fun way to descend. You sit on a mat, control speed with your feet, and spiral down through transparent sections with canyon views.
Available: Year-round
Transport
How to Get to the Glass Bridge
From Wulingyuan (Recommended)
- • Direct minibus from Wulingyuan bus station
- • Look for signs marked "大峡谷" (Grand Canyon)
- • Runs every 30 min from 7:00 AM
- • ¥25 · 40 minutes
- • Last return bus: ~5:30 PM
From Zhangjiajie City
- • Bus to Wulingyuan first (¥12, 40 min)
- • Transfer to Grand Canyon minibus
- • Total: ~1.5 hours
- • Taxi from Wulingyuan: ¥80-100 one-way
- • For detailed transport: see our Getting There guide
FAQ
Common Questions
Is the glass really safe?
Yes — and the park wants you to know it. In 2016, they invited a journalist to swing a sledgehammer at a glass panel on live TV. The top layer cracked but the two lower layers held. Each panel is 6cm of laminated glass rated to support 800 kg. The bridge is inspected daily before opening. When a metal thermos was dropped from waist height in 2015, the bridge closed for a full safety inspection before reopening — they take this seriously.
What happens if it rains?
The bridge stays open in rain. The glass becomes slippery — shoe covers are provided at the entrance (free). Visibility through the glass is reduced when wet, but the canyon views from the sides are unaffected. The bungee jump and zipline close in heavy rain or high winds.
Can I take photos on the bridge?
Yes — phones and compact cameras are fine. Professional cameras with large lenses may be restricted on busy days (the staff wants to keep pedestrian flow moving). Selfie sticks and tripods are prohibited. Drones are banned. Free lockers at the entrance store anything you cannot bring on the bridge.
Is it worth visiting if I am afraid of heights?
The glass floor covers the center lane only — both sides of the bridge have solid, opaque walkways. You can cross the entire bridge without stepping on glass. The views from the side railings are still spectacular. We have seen several visitors who started on the opaque walkway and, by the halfway point, felt brave enough to try a few steps on the glass.
How does it compare to the Grand Canyon Skywalk in the US?
The Zhangjiajie bridge is much longer (430m vs 21m for the Skywalk horseshoe), higher (300m vs 150m), and costs significantly less (¥128 vs ~$80 USD). The Skywalk is cantilevered over the rim — the Zhangjiajie bridge spans the full canyon. Different experiences, but Zhangjiajie wins on scale and value.
The Verdict
Is the Glass Bridge Worth It?
✓ Yes, if you:
- • Book the 8 AM slot — the experience gap between 8 AM and 10 AM is enormous
- • Get the CNY 219 combo (bridge + hike + boat) — the bridge alone feels thin for the price
- • Want a unique adrenaline experience — walking on glass at 300m is not something you do every day
- • Are traveling with teenagers — this is the attraction they will talk about most
✗ Skip it, if you:
- • Are on a tight budget — ¥128-219 for a 15-minute bridge crossing is the highest cost-per-minute in the park
- • Only have 1-2 days — prioritize the Forest Park and Tianmen Mountain
- • Hate crowds — even with the 8 AM slot, the bridge is never truly empty
- • Have severe acrophobia — the opaque side walkways exist, but the experience centers on looking down
Our honest take: with the 8 AM slot and the combo ticket (CNY 219 including canyon hike and boat), the Glass Bridge is a solid half-day excursion that most visitors will remember. Without the canyon portion and with a midday time slot, it ranks below the Avatar pillar and Tianzi Mountain. Bridge + canyon descent + slide + boat ride is one of the most fun mornings in the park.
The Glass Bridge is one of four attractions covered in our complete guide.