Liping Tianqiao (Heavenly Bridge)

Liping Tianqiao

Liping Tianqiao is located in Liping County in the southeastern part of Guizhou Province, about 16 kilometers northeast of Liping County’s central town, Defeng, and 460 kilometers from Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province. The Fu’lu River, a tributary of the Qingshui River, flows through the area. Tianqiao is closely connected to the Bazhou River Scenic Area and the Liping Urban Cultural Scenic Area (a historic and cultural city), and is one of the major attractions within the Liping Dong Ethnic Scenic Area.

Liping Tianqiao is a natural stone arch bridge, stretching 256 meters in total length. Its main arch spans the Fu’lu River with a span of 138.4 meters, a width of 118 meters, and an arch height of 36.64 meters above the water surface. The thickness of the rock layer at the top of the arch is 40 meters. The secondary arch has a span of 78 meters, a height of 28 meters, and a width of 119 meters. The span of just the main arch far exceeds that of the Rainbow Bridge in Utah, USA — currently holding the Guinness World Record for a natural bridge, which spans 88 meters and is 30 meters high. On January 15, 2001, Liping Tianqiao was officially awarded the Guinness World Records certificate.

Liping Tianqiao is majestic and grand, with an exquisitely structured arch that boasts a perfectly round curve, a smooth base, and neatly arranged rock layers at the top — all formed naturally without any human intervention, truly showcasing the wonders of nature. The bridge features several stone caves, some of which lead all the way to the top, while others vary in depth and are home to numerous bats. The tops and walls of the bridge display various stone pillars, stalagmites, and rock formations in diverse and striking shapes — resembling eternal lamps, mighty warriors, or heavenly steeds ready to gallop away. Towering ancient pines cling to the cliffs, accompanied by lush vegetation, creating an exceptionally serene environment. Beneath the bridge, the flowing water sparkles gently; in the green pools below, the reflections of mountains and trees shimmer on the water’s surface. When sunlight filters through, the sounds of birds, pine winds, and flowing water harmonize beautifully. An ancient poet once wrote: “Man’s chisel fails where nature’s art excels; through solid earth the sky a bridge compels. Two cliffs uphold a dragon’s arch so sly, whose craftsmanship none can rival or deny.” Indeed, Liping Tianqiao is a unique natural stone arch bridge in the world.

Transportation: The Bazhou River Scenic Area is located 16 kilometers northeast of Liping County. Take a bus to Jinping from Liping Bus Station and get off at Bazhou River.

Accommodation:

You can stay and dine in Liping County. Well-equipped hotels in the county include Hengyu Hotel, Forestry Hotel, Liyang Baotong Hotel, and Jinye Hotel. Two star-rated hotels are also under renovation. Local specialty restaurants in Liping are mainly concentrated on the right side of Xingli Business City at the foot of Pingjie.

Dongfeng Forest Farm is located along Provincial Highway 308 between Liping and Jinping, just 16 kilometers from the county town, offering very convenient transportation. The road to Taiping Mountain Scenic Area is currently under construction and improvement. To reach Liping County, you can come from Jingzhou County and Tongdao County in Huaihua, Hunan; Sanjiang County in Guangxi; or Kaili in Guizhou. Liping Airport officially began operations on May 1, 2005, and is just about a one-hour flight from nearby cities such as Guilin and Guiyang.

Suggested Duration

1 hour

Transportation

Take a bus from Liping County Bus Station to Gaotun — the Liping Tianqiao is along the way.

Ticket Price

Free

Location

Gaotun Town, Liping County, Qiandongnan Prefecture, Guizhou Province