A new elevated pedestrian bridge opened on December 15 in Guangzhou, easing congestion in the busy Pazhou while offering sweeping views of the Pearl River.
The 500-meter-long "ribbon bridge", officially named the Pazhou West Bank Three-Dimensional Pedestrian Corridor, stretches across Yuejiang West Road, creating a direct link between office buildings housing major tech firms like Tencent and Alibaba and the waterfront.
Its design incorporates 4,276 custom-made steel components, forming a flowing, ribbon-like shape dubbed the "Blue Water Cloud Bridge".
The bridge features a two-level layout that separates commuting from leisure. The lower level provides direct access to a tram stop and a water-bus pier, while the upper level leads to a 6.6-meter-high viewing platform, which offers 270-degree vistas of the Pearl River, Canton Tower, and Haixin Bridge. Five elevators and twelve staircases connect the different levels.
A key feature is the 67-meter-wide curved platform known as "The Kiss of the Pearl River". An intelligent lighting system illuminates the bridge at night, creating a "dancing ripples" effect.
By spanning the main road, the bridge reduces the walking time from the office towers to the riverfront from about 12 minutes to just 3. This is expected to alleviate ground-level congestion for both pedestrians and vehicles, particularly during major events like the Canton Fair. The project also connects to Pazhou's existing network of elevated walkways.
In addition to improving mobility, the bridge incorporates leisure spaces, including a dry fountain plaza, nearly 3,000 square meters of landscaping, and an open-air theater.
Visiting the Bridge
The bridge is free to access and can be reached via Nanfeng Station on the Haizhu tram line. Its design includes elevators and stepped routes to ensure universal access.
Author | Feng Huiting
Photo | Guangzhou Daily
Editor | Huang Qini, James Campion, Shen He
