Screenshot from a video shows safety testing of a rope-free bungee jumping on the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge in Southwest China’s Guizhou Province.

Recently, a video of a rope-free bungee jumping test on the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, the newly opened world’s tallest bridge, in Southwest China’s Guizhou Province, drew controversy due to its bold design, with some netizens expressing their concern over its safety.

Some netizens expressed their concerns on social media platform Sina Weibo, wondering how the organizers will ensure safety when participants jump from such a high place. 

A Global Times reporter learned from a source who is familiar with the matter on Wednesday that after the project drew wide public attention, the local government has intervened and multiple parties are conducting evaluations on safety guarantee.

The project has been under test with sandbags. Videos circulating online show the project look thrilling. Footage shows workers dropping sandbags from a height into a safety net, and the net is violently jolted, which adds to the thrill. 

The Global Times reporter called the Zhenfeng County’s culture, radio, television, sports and tourism bureau in Guizhou Province, where the project is located. One working staff from the bureau said they are not accepting interviews.

According to a CNR News report on Tuesday, the rope-free bungee jumping project was under testing. Once launched, the price will be 1,699 yuan ($238.46) per person, which is lower than the scenic area’s corded bungee at 2,999 yuan. There has been no notice yet about the exact launch time. Because rope-free bungee is an extreme activity, multiple system tests will be carried out and it will only open once safety is absolutely assured, per the CNR News report.

A staff member answering the inquiry hotline for the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge scenic area told the Global Times on Wednesday that they were not aware of the specific progress of this project. “We haven’t received any notice about this project. If the project goes ahead later, it may be promoted online, but right now we don’t know anything.”

According to Hongxing News on Wednesday, a staff member with the project told the reporter that the originally scheduled public opening of the facility for October 23 has been canceled due to intense public attention.

The scenic area says the bungee platform is 60 meters above the ground. The activity offers bungee jumps from heights of 20–50 meters, and visitors can choose their preferred height, according to the Hongxing News.

According to the CNR News report, unlike traditional bungee jumping, the rope-free experience does not require participants to wear a cord; participants jump directly into a safety net below. The net’s four corners are anchored and can effectively absorb a person’s fall. After the jump, participants descend to a lower platform to exit. The scenic area says visitors over the age of 60, or those with heart disease or high blood pressure are not permitted to participate, according to CNR News.

A staff member of the Zhenfeng County market supervision bureau said that sandbags of various weights have been used in tests to verify the stability and load-bearing capacity of the safety net, and that professional personnel are on site to provide guidance, per the CNR News report. 

The bottom is equipped with two layers of protection: a safety net and airbags. The project is still undergoing safety testing and refinements to the plan, and visitors weighing more than 90 kilograms are advised not to participate, according to the report.

Regarding some netizens’ safety concerns, a staff member of Zhenfeng County culture, radio, television, sports and tourism bureau said the project operator has calculated the jump range and ensured full protective coverage for landing points within 2-3 meters. Staff will monitor wind speed, and if the weather is unsuitable for bungee jumping, the attraction will be closed, according to the CNR News report on Tuesday.

Global Times