Asia’s longest, highest ropeway over plunging valley to close after construction of bridge

A ropeway in Southwest China, said to be the longest and highest in Asia, will stop operation once a bridge is built in the next few years, putting an end to the decades-long history of risky passages for residents living in surrounding villages.

Built in 1999, the Ying'ge ropeway near Yinggecun, Yunnan province is a shortcut for villagers to cross the 440-meter-wide valley and reach the outside world. Although there is a paved road, residents still use the ropeway because it's considerably faster.

Jiang Shixue, who originally proposed building the ropeway and has been serving as its operator for the past 18 years, recalled: “It used to be hand-powered at the very beginning, and then it switched to a diesel engine.” Thanks to the electric power introduced several years ago, a single ride now takes just five minutes.

However, when affected by severe weather or a power failure, the ropeway - which is suspended more than 250 meters above the raging Jinsha River - has to shut down for the sake of safety. Frequent passengers also complain about the uncomfortable riding experience in a swaying cable car.

Locals have been dreaming of crossing the valley on a bridge for years, and now their dream is becoming reality. A 385-meter-long concrete bridge is taking shape just 400 meters away from the ropeway. The main body of the two-lane bridge is scheduled to be complete at the end of this year, and it will be open to traffic in early 2018.

Yang Chaofu, the chief director of the bridge project, said that once it is complete, the bridge will not only put an end to treacherous crossings, it will also pave the way to a better life for about 80,000 locals, who will be able to deliver agricultural products into the hands of urban customers in a much safer, faster way than ever before.