Cordless Bungee Jump Introduced at 625m Canyon in China
Opening Temporarily Suspended Amid Safety Concerns
The introduction of a "cordless bungee jump" at the Huaxiang Canyon Bridge, which boasts the world's highest bridge at 625 meters, has been temporarily suspended due to safety concerns.
The "cordless bungee jump" (right) installed on the Huaxiang Canyon Bridge in Guizhou Province, China (left). Photo by Baidu
According to local media outlets such as China Radio International on October 24, the "cordless bungee jump" at the Huaxiang Canyon Bridge in Guizhou Province was scheduled to officially open on October 22, but its operation has been put on hold due to insufficient safety assessments.
Recently, a video showing a trial of the cordless bungee jump at the Huaxiang Canyon Bridge has been circulating on Chinese social media platforms. The footage shows a sandbag being dropped from the bridge and landing on a safety net installed several dozen meters below.
The Huaxiang Canyon Bridge tourist district explained, "The cordless bungee jump is currently in the testing phase. Participants jump off the platform without a cord and fall into a safety net measuring about 160 square meters." An official added, "All four corners of the safety net are secured to withstand the impact of the fall, and after landing, the net is lowered to a platform below so that participants can exit safely."
The cordless bungee jump allows participants to choose a drop height between 20 and 50 meters, and is available only to those weighing between 40 and 90 kilograms. Individuals over 60 years old or those with heart disease or high blood pressure are prohibited from participating. The experience costs 1,688 yuan (approximately 340,000 won), which is less expensive than the traditional corded bungee jump (2,999 yuan, or about 600,000 won).
However, concerns about safety have been raised online regarding the device. Internet users pointed out that "there is no guarantee that a person will fall vertically like a sandbag," and expressed worries that "a participant could be blown off course by the wind or twist their body and land outside the safety net." Others noted, "The cordless bungee jump is a new type of attraction not covered by existing regulations, so there are no official safety standards in place."
In response, an official from the Zhenfeng County Bureau of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, which oversees the Huaxiang Canyon Bridge tourist district, stated, "Both the sandbag experiment and actual human tests have passed, so safety has been ensured." Nevertheless, as the controversy grew, the authorities ultimately decided to temporarily suspend the opening.
The Huaxiang Canyon Bridge, meanwhile, opened on September 28 after three years and eight months of construction. The total length of the bridge is 2,890 meters, with a main span of 1,380 meters between the bridge towers. The travel time between the two sides of the canyon has been reduced from two hours to just two minutes. At 625 meters high, the bridge is 60 meters taller than the previous record holder, the Beipanjiang Bridge in China, which stands at 565 meters.
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