The inauguration ceremony for the Danjiang Bridge – dubbed the world’s longest single-mast asymmetric cable-stayed bridge – took place on Saturday (9 May), ahead of its official opening to traffic on 12 May. This major milestone comes after almost 30 years of planning and construction.

Designed by the late architect Zaha Hadid, the bridge spans nearly 1 km across the mouth of the Tamsui River in northern Taiwan, featuring a single curved mast inspired by the movements of dancers from Cloud Gate Dance Theatre. It was recognised by CNN as one of the 11 architecture projects set to shape the world in 2025.

An iconic engineering landmark, the Danjiang Bridge serves as a regional transport link connecting the Tamsui and Bali districts. Its opening will shorten journeys by 15 km and reduce travel time by around 25 minutes, while traffic on existing routes is expected to fall by 30%. It will also help ease congestion around the Guandu Bridge and improve access between New Taipei and Taoyuan International Airport.

The project was first proposed in 1998 but faced years of delays due to environmental reviews, design revisions and construction difficulties. It finally began construction in 2019 after multiple failed tenders, with engineers subsequently overcoming challenges ranging from underwater leaks to strong winds at the river estuary.

“This bridge is Taiwan’s pride. It will become a landmark for Taiwan and another calling card for the country on the international stage,” said Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te at the inauguration ceremony held in New Taipei. “I also hope people across the country can, through the construction of the Danjiang Bridge, feel the respect Taiwan has earned internationally. If we stand united and work together, Taiwan will certainly become even better.”

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