Glass bridges draw tourists, concern

According to The Earth magazine, which is published by the Geological Museum of China, more than 60 glass bridges were being built or had been completed nation wide as of November 2016.

In 2017, more glass bridges appeared, particularly in provinces with mountains, such as Jiangxi, Hunan and Yunnan. These provinces boast at least five glass bridges on average. "Walking on a see-through bridge is both exciting and nerve-racking," said Li Jinxiang, a resident of Hefei, the capital of Anhui. "You get nervous with every step you take." The fervor for glass bridges has also led to viral videos recording tourists walking on the bridges, with many of them crying, laughing and lying on the bridges, refusing to walk on.

But the phenomenon has also raised a few eyebrows.

In Anhui's Anqing city, a glass-bottomed platform was built on a giant rock, the main attraction of the Jushi Mountains tourist area. Some argued that building such a structure could damage the natural scenery.

Yimu, a seasoned tourism expert, said the fervor behind the glass bridges needs to cool off.

"It is understandable to add some new elements to traditional tourist attractions, but it is also important not to damage the attractions," Yimu said. "Instead of blindly following the bridge-building trend, authorities should consider spending more money to improve tourism infrastructure at the tourist attractions."

Xinhua