I Thought the USA Led the World… Then I Came to China
In the mountains of Jishou stands a bridge many experts once said was impossible to build — the breathtaking Aizhai Bridge.
Suspended high above a deep canyon, connecting sheer cliffs with mind-blowing precision, this isn’t just a bridge… it’s a statement. When it was first proposed, engineers around the world questioned whether it could even be done. Today, it stands as one of the greatest examples of modern infrastructure and engineering the world has ever seen.
We travelled to see it for ourselves — to understand how it was built, why it matters, and what it says about where the world is heading.
Is this the future of global infrastructure?
And have we been looking in the wrong place this whole time?
This changed my perspective completely.
#China #Infrastructure #Engineering #Bridges #OTWD
February 2026 | Vlog 579 | Jishou, China
21/34 Province
When we finally started our adventure
17/07/2021.
Buy us a beer and I will toast to you on the next video. Cheers 🍻
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Hello and welcome to our channel,
We are Reanne and Ben living in Portsmouth, England. We have been together from the age of 15.
We brought our first house together at 23, got married at 25 and Reanne started her own business at 27.
We have been wanting to travel the world so
The day has finally come we have sold our business and and our house to explore as much of the world Full Time.
We created this YouTube channel to share our adventure with everyone who wants to explore but don’t know how. Let us know what you think of our channel so leave a comment we’d love to hear from you x
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43 Comments
I’ve been waiting for this video soo bad 😭
❤❤❤
This video made my day! ❤️ Incredible scenery
wow you go to the ai-zhai bridge, I've been there, great view there
The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that, in order to facilitate personnel exchanges between China and other countries, starting from February 17, 2026, a unilateral visa exemption policy will be implemented for ordinary passport holders from Canada and the United Kingdom. Citizens of these two countries may enter China without a visa for purposes such as business, tourism, visiting relatives or friends, exchanges and visits, or transit, provided their stay does not exceed 30 days. This policy will remain in effect until December 31, 2026.
This place doesn't look like it is big city like Shanghai or Beijing; yet the government still spend the money and effort to build such manificient bridge. Great Respect.
I feel giddy just by watching the video. There's absolutely no way I'd go onto that bridge. Not in a gzillion years.
😍😍
Today, the Chinese government announced visa-free entry for British citizens, welcoming British friends to travel to China.😊
Your next target may be the Huajiang Canyon Bridge. It is located on both sides of Guanling County, Anshun City, Guizhou Province, and Zhenfeng County, Qiannan Prefecture, China, on the Huajiang Gorge. This bridge is even more crazy, with a height of 625 meters from the bridge deck to the water surface.
你们应该去贵州花江峡谷大桥，世界第一大世界第一高，比你们这个桥还要壮观
https://youtu.be/0VqbxtPMnEU?si=B4vGj9K2jWd8oZx0 I am not sure if this is the same bridge but obviously the colours are not the same and both have thick glass for you to walk on.
That tingling your feeling , it is called a "gut feeling" you can be trained to acknowledge this as the average person ignores it. This means your brain is telling you , you could be in danger.
厉害 快成为一个本地人了
You guys should visit the Huajiang Bridge. It’s a suspension bridge in Guizhou. It was recently opened last year. It’s the World highest bridge with a height of 625m. It’s much scariest than this one. I’ve been there once. Absolutely once in a life time to visit this bridge. You will love it.
牛逼
I never heard of this bridge before until this video
Thank you Reanne and Ben for the close-up shots.
"The impossible made possible “, so true!
You should get some Chinese friends bridges collapse everyday in China
The US still leads the world… with military bases and coercion.
The bridge is incredible, To build it in 4 years is unbelievable.
China is the Word-Leader in Building and Infrastrucktur ❤
Hi Ben and Reanne, Can you tell me if I need an physical sim as well to link Weecgat and Alipay to my Wise card when in China. I'll have anesim as well. Thanks a lot. Would be very helpful as I am going in the summer.
Watching all you videos btw. The best China Youtuberes you guys are. Telling it as it is without any bias. Great stuff. Oh! What trnaslation app are you using. Seems very efficient.
Great! Thanks for sharing.
I think your information was outdated, this bridge was the biggest 3 years ago, now is #3.
I have a bit of a fear of heights. Even when I see such a scene in a video, it still makes my heart race.
China builds transportation infrastructure (bridges, roads, highways, high speed railways) to connect rural areas to highly developd cities and industrialised areas to create economic opportunities, jobs and markets. This strategy was used in the Targetted Poverty Alleviation Programme that lifted 800 million Chinese out of absolute poverty from 1993 – 2023.
Apparently there is a tiny plaque at the top that says "made in China"
Try do 华山。
China is looking at U.S at the rear view mirror 100 miles ahead. China is so far ahead of the rest of the world. i cant wait to see China 30 years from now.
Have you seen this millions down the drain Hongqi bridge collapses in southwest China, months after opening. there is alot corruption in china we call it tofu construction project they use cheap concrete and cheap steel
Fun fact, if you are dining or at a cafe or bar and happened to be low on batt, u can ask the shop to help you charge it for free and get it back when u leave. Most, not all.
24:23 betel nut for chewing, bad for health
Enjoyed this vlog very much, and in particular the homely feel listening you guys local British scent. Well done.
吃炸串的时候，不要用尖的那头对准自己的嘴巴，而是要横着咬。 以前有一个事故，一个人一边走路一边吃羊肉串，他不小心绊了一跤，摔倒了。尖锐的那头就从他的脑干刺穿出来，于是他就瘫痪了。
Ben, my man, the lady was asking if you’d like some spicy flavor (辣椒) for those chicken and duck or not. And you were just standing there and saying it’s famous “Lajiao”(Spicy/chilly). That’s pure comedy 😂Love it!❤ 21:36
The black-packaged one at 24:24 is betel nut (areca nut), an addictive substance. After just a few uses, people become addicted and can't stop chewing it. Long-term use leads to oral submucous fibrosis, causing irreversible damage to the oral mucosa. If continued, it carries a risk of developing oral cancer.
In some southern provinces of China, you can see people whose faces have become square-shaped, unable to open their mouths to speak or eat properly. In severe cases, they even require surgery to remove parts of their face—these are individuals who have abused betel nut.
In certain countries, betel nut is classified and controlled as a drug, but in China it remains legal, which is really hard to understand.
How long have you been travelling in Chin? It seem you are very local, already.
(My God) – Ben !!!! – 🫨🫨🫨🫨🫨 – (You've – Been) – To – (Places) – That – (I – Have) – (Never – Been) – ❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️ – And – (I'm – Chinese) – 🇨🇳 🇨🇳 🇨🇳 🇨🇳 🇨🇳 – (I – Guess) – (This) – is – (A – Huge) – (Tourist – Attraction) – For – (The – Locals) – in – (Hunan – Province) – ✅️ ✅️ ✅️ ✅️ ✅️ – (By) – (The – Way) – (Ji – Shou) – ▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️- is – (Populated) – By – (China's) – 🇨🇳 🇨🇳 🇨🇳 🇨🇳 🇨🇳 – (Ethnic – Minorities) – ▫️▫️▫️▫️▫️- 1) Tujia – People – 🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️🔹️ – & – (Miao – People) – 🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️🔸️-
And Ben didn't film the guy who was doing the bungeei jump !!! Whoever not? And you didn't even film the guys taking that frightening walk down !! Oh dear.
what is so great ? americans already built bridges like this since hundred years ago
Nobody builds more impressive bridges than China.