In the hours following the collapse, locals whispered that the disaster didn’t feel entirely unexpected.
Some residents claimed that unusual activity had been noticed around the construction site days earlier—strange late-night vehicle movements, officials quietly inspecting support pillars, and workers appearing unusually tense.
While none of these accounts have been officially confirmed, the uneasy atmosphere has fueled speculation that more was known about the bridge’s fragility than authorities have admitted. With the dramatic footage now circulating online,
many are questioning whether the landslide alone was responsible, or if deeper issues had been overlooked—or concealed—long before the structure came crashing down.
A newly constructed bridge in China has crumbled just months after opening to the public, leaving residents stunned and prompting renewed concerns about the safety of the nation’s rapidly expanding infrastructure network.
The Hongqi Bridge—stretching 2,487 feet and linking Sichuan province to Tibet as part of a major national highway—collapsed on Tuesday morning (November 11) after a powerful landslide tore through the steep mountainside. Massive slabs of concrete and debris tumbled into the river below as the structure gave way.
Key Points
The Hongqi Bridge in Sichuan fell apart only months after completion due to a large landslide.
Officials had already closed the bridge one day prior after detecting slope instability, preventing any casualties.
The incident sparked criticism about building major projects in regions prone to earthquakes and landslides.
Dramatic images and video of the bridge folding and crumbling into dust rapidly went viral.
Although authorities confirmed no deaths or injuries, online speculation about the causes spread quickly.
One of China’s signature new bridges collapses shortly after opening
Police in Ma’erkang—also known by its Tibetan name, Barkam—blocked the bridge on Monday afternoon when engineers spotted early signs of geological distress on the slopes and roadways above the structure.
“There were visible signs of deformation along the surrounding slopes,” local officials said.
“The situation deteriorated on Tuesday, triggering a major landslide that caused the bridge to break apart and collapse.”
Footage shows the central span of the bridge collapsing as the landslide hits, the heavy concrete beams snapping abruptly before plunging into the valley below.
Completed just earlier this year, the Hongqi Bridge had been intended as a crucial transport link between Sichuan’s interior and the Tibetan plateau. Now, its shattered remains lie scattered along the river it once crossed.
For government critics, the bridge’s downfall has become a symbol of China’s infrastructure boom—where rapid construction and massive scale sometimes overshadow long-term durability and safety.
Another addition to China’s growing list of infrastructure mishaps
China’s transportation network has seen multiple high-profile failures in recent years.
In July 2024, a major bridge in Shaanxi province collapsed, killing at least 11 people.
And in 2022, a residential building in Changsha crumbled, claiming 26 lives and leading to the arrest of nine individuals for allegedly ignoring key safety requirements.
By comparison, the Hongqi Bridge collapse appears to stem primarily from treacherous terrain and natural hazards.
Sichuan lies along one of China’s most unstable seismic belts, the same region devastated by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake that killed more than 69,000 people. Experts warn that steep slopes, heavy rainfall, and shifting geological conditions make large-scale construction especially risky in the area.
Public questions arise over the decision to build in a region prone to landslides
The bridge was reportedly designed to withstand harsh geological conditions, but its destruction so soon after opening has triggered debate about China’s rapid infrastructure expansion and whether oversight has kept pace.
Online users discussed a range of possible explanations.
“Looks like slope deformation—maybe more of a planning issue than a structural one,” someone commented on a popular engineering forum.
“So the slope underneath gave way from its own weight and pulled the bridge down?” another asked.
A user claiming to be a civil engineer offered a more technical perspective:
“The ground at the toe—where the slope meets the base—failed, creating a cavity that moved upward. That mass of earth displaced the anchoring, letting the deck slide sideways. Bridges aren’t built to tolerate that kind of movement.”
In short, the foundation beneath the bridge may have failed, rather than the bridge design itself.
Authorities in Sichuan are still conducting an official investigation, but experts speculate that inadequate slope reinforcement or insufficient geological surveying may have contributed.
A viral clip shared on social media showed the bridge collapsing in real time, further fueling nationwide discussion.
“Horrifying.” Citizens express relief that the collapse caused no injuries
China’s Ministry of Transport has dispatched inspection teams to study the site and evaluate whether nearby structures might also be in danger. For now, the entire stretch of highway linking Sichuan and Tibet has been shut down.
Even though there were no casualties, the bridge collapse has become a major national topic—particularly because the structure was meant to symbolize strength, connectivity, and the progress of China’s western development initiatives.
Conclusion
The fall of the Hongqi Bridge has become more than just another infrastructure failure—it has unfolded into a national debate over accountability, planning, and the push for rapid development in some of China’s most unstable regions.
Although investigators continue to pinpoint the exact mechanics of the collapse, the incident has already left a lasting impression on the public, who are demanding clearer answers about how a project celebrated as an engineering milestone could disintegrate in a matter of months.
For many observers, the disaster highlights the delicate balance between progress and safety, revealing the vulnerabilities hidden beneath China’s ambitious construction boom. Whether attributed to geological instability, planning oversights, or a combination of factors still undisclosed, the collapse serves as a stark reminder that speed and scale cannot replace thorough oversight. As the dust settles and authorities work to assess the broader risks in the area, one thing is clear: the Hongqi Bridge, once a symbol of connection and development, now stands as a warning about the consequences of building boldly on uncertain ground.