The Tian'e Longtan Bridge spanning the Hongshui River in China's Guangxi region has established a new global record with a main concrete arch span reaching 600 meters. Recognized at the end of August with the region's top science and technology award, the four-lane structure totals 2,488.55 meters in length and officially opened in 2024. Its central arch surpasses the previous world record by 155 meters, making it the longest steel-tubular concrete arch bridge in the world.

To overcome significant structural challenges—where the bridge's own mass accounted for over 90 percent of the total load—engineers redesigned the main arch to reduce overall weight. By splitting the main arch into two load-bearing ribs and removing structural components from lower-stress areas, the arch width was reduced from 23 meters to 13 meters, cutting total concrete consumption from approximately 40,000 to 28,000 cubic meters.

Additionally, project engineers developed specialized pouring and monitoring techniques to manage thermal stress and prevent cracking as the concrete cured. As the first concrete arch bridge to achieve a 600-meter main span, this milestone opens new technical possibilities for long-span bridge construction worldwide.