Golden Gate Bridge

Golden Gate Bridge

Guide   The bridge has six lanes, with an average daily traffic of 100,000 vehicles. Drivers entering the city must pay a toll. On the bay-facing sides at both ends of the bridge, there are observation decks and parking lots, and a large gift shop is located near Crissy Field. The bridge is very windy, and there are pedestrian and bicycle paths about 1.2 km long on both sides, which take about one hour for a round trip.   Highlights   Best viewpoints: 1. Fort Point on the south side of the bridge. 2. Vista Point near Sausalito. 3. Battery Spencer on the west side of the other end of the bridge — all are great spots for sightseeing.

Introduction   Whenever people cross the Pacific Ocean and enter San Francisco on the North American continent, the first thing that comes into view is a massive suspension bridge spanning the bay — the world-renowned Golden Gate Bridge. Opened in 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge spans approximately 2.7 kilometers, with two towers reaching 227 meters high at each end. It is one of the largest single-span suspension bridges in the world and is regarded as a symbol of San Francisco. During the Gold Rush, the bridge was seen as a gateway to the gold mines, hence its name “Golden Gate.” The Golden Gate Bridge is also an engineering marvel. It has only two main pillars and does not rely on traditional piers; instead, it uses massive tension from the curved suspenders on both sides to lift the heavy bridge deck high above the water. The designer of the Golden Gate Bridge was engineer Joseph Strauss. A bronze statue of him has been placed near the bridge to commemorate his contributions to the United States. From groundbreaking to completion, the project took four and a half years and cost over $35 million — an enormous undertaking.

Today, the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the busiest bridges in the world, with around 100,000 vehicles crossing it every day.   Transportation   Buses 28 and 29 can get you there; bus 76 only runs on Sundays. Address: US Hwy 101, San Francisco, CA, USA 94901-5381   Ticket/Opening Hours   Toll: US$3 (one-way, toward the city); pedestrians cross free.

San Francisco, USA