Hainan's longest sea bridge opens to the public

Haiwen Bridge in Hainan province opens to traffic on March 18. [Photo by Yuan Chen/Hainan Daily]

The longest sea bridge in South China's Hainan province opened Monday, cutting travel time from Wenchang city to Haikou city from 90 minutes to about 20, according to the local transport authority.

The 5.6-kilometer Haiwen Bridge links Puqian town in Wenchang, famous for its culture and tourism resources, to Yanfeng town in Haikou, capital of the tropical Hainan province.

The new landmark transport project is expected to facilitate the integration of the Haikou, Chengmai and Wenchang economic circle in northeastern Hainan Island.

It will also serve as a gateway to Haikou's Jiangdong New District, which is being built as a comprehensive demonstration area of the China (Hainan) Pilot Free Trade Zone, according to local authorities.

With a total investment of 2.67 billion yuan ($398 million), construction of the bridge, originally named Puqian Bridge, began in 2015.

Spanning a geological fault line, the cable-stayed bridge was built to the highest standard of earthquake resistance.

To ensure the bridge's safety, weights of more than 49 tons will not be allowed across, according to provincial transportation authorities.

Aerial view of Haiwen Bridge in China's Hainan province [Photo by Yuan Chen/Hainan Daily]

Locals come to witness the grand opening of Haiwen Bridge. [Photo by Zhang Mao/Hainan Daily]