They complete the tallest structure that defies the sea: 964 feet high, equivalent to 100 floors and a key mission

China has once again asserted itself on the global engineering and infrastructure stage by breaking the record for the tallest sea‑based bridge tower ever built. The achievement belongs to Tower No. 5 of the Xihoumen Bridge in the city of Zhoushan - an enormous structure that allows travelers to cross part of the sea via expansive highway and rail corridors. With this colossal project, the Asian powerhouse opens 2026 with a major milestone, having completed the bridge on December 30 of last year.

The tower stands at 294 meters (964 feet) - about the height of a 100‑story skyscraper, according to Xinhua. It forms the fifth main tower of the Xihoumen Road‑Rail Bridge, a megastructure that enables residents and visitors to cross the Xihoumen Channel via the Ningbo-Zhoushan railway or its namesake highway.

According to Chinese authorities, the tower now ranks as the tallest bridge tower ever constructed at sea and is also the first main tower completed along the entire Ningbo–Zhoushan railway line. Officials added that despite harsh marine conditions - such as high winds, corrosion, and seismic activity - the bridge was engineered with enough structural resilience to withstand a wide range of environmental challenges.

The world’s longest bridge–and–tunnel system

To bring this massive project to life, China once again showcased its technological innovation and engineering expertise. The construction demanded an extraordinarily complex coordination effort along with advanced building techniques capable of supporting a tower of this scale.

The result is a project of major strategic importance for the development of transportation infrastructure in eastern China. Residents will benefit from stronger connectivity across coastal regions and witness long‑term regional economic growth fueled by improved mobility.

This milestone comes on the heels of another major achievement: the opening of the world’s longest highway tunnel, also located in China. Construction conditions for the tunnel were extreme due to its placement beneath the Tianshan Mountains. With its completion, China adds yet another major project to a growing list of transformative national infrastructure works.

Thanks to this tunnel, citizens will enjoy improved connections between eastern coastal areas and inland regions, along with long‑term economic benefits. Stretching around 14 miles, the massive project drastically cuts travel time across the mountains - from seven hours down to just three and a half.

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