China's Changjie Bridge spans the Yangtze with a 1,200-metre main span — the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world.
Quick answer: 1. Changjie Bridge, 2. Russky Bridge, 3. Husutong Yangtze River Bridge, 4. Sutong Yangtze River Bridge, 5. Yingshang Bridge, 6. Nanjing Qixiashan Yangtze River Bridge, 7. Stonecutters Bridge, 8. Tatara Bridge, 9. Pont de Normandie, 10. Shanghai Yangtze River Bridge.
Cable-stayed bridges are among the most elegant and efficient long-span bridge designs, with their distinctive fan-shaped cable arrays supporting the deck from one or more towers. Over the past two decades, China has led a surge in record-breaking cable-stayed spans, pushing well past the kilometre mark. This list ranks the world's ten longest cable-stayed bridge spans by their main-span length — the distance between the two main towers. The numbers reflect the latest engineering data from completed bridges, where the main span is the defining measure of a cable-stayed bridge's ambition.
Completed in 2024, the Changjie Bridge spans the Yangtze River in Jiangsu Province with a main span of 1,200 metres — the longest cable-stayed bridge span in the world. Its twin diamond-shaped towers rise 333 metres each.
The Russky Bridge in Vladivostok held the world record for the longest cable-stayed span from 2012 to 2020 with its 1,104-metre main span. It connects the Russian mainland to Russky Island across the Eastern Bosphorus Strait.
This combined road-rail bridge across the Yangtze in Jiangsu Province features a 1,092-metre main span. It carries a six-lane highway on the upper deck and two railway tracks on the lower deck, making it one of the world's longest rail-carrying cable-stayed spans.
Upon completion in 2008, the Sutong Bridge held the world record for the longest cable-stayed span at 1,088 metres. It connects Nantong and Suzhou across the Yangtze and remains one of the most heavily travelled bridges in China.
This 1,080-metre main-span bridge in Anhui Province was completed in 2023, adding another super-long cable-stayed crossing to China's inventory. Its clean, modern design reflects the latest advances in cable-stayed bridge engineering.
This 1,048-metre main-span cable-stayed bridge in Nanjing carries the expressway ring road across the Yangtze. Its twin towers reach 270 metres, providing 50 metres of vertical clearance for river traffic.
Hong Kong's Stonecutters Bridge features a 1,018-metre main span connecting the island of Tsing Yi to the Kowloon Peninsula. Its distinctive twin single-pylon towers and stainless steel cladding make it an architectural landmark.
The Tatara Bridge in Japan held the world record for the longest cable-stayed span from 1999 to 2008 with its 890-metre main span. It connects the islands of Honshu and Shikoku as part of the Nishiseto Expressway and remains an engineering landmark.
The Pont de Normandie in France held the world record for the longest cable-stayed span from 1995 to 1999 with its 856-metre main span. It crosses the Seine estuary connecting Le Havre to Honfleur and remains a masterpiece of French engineering.
This 830-metre main-span cable-stayed bridge in Shanghai carries the G40 expressway across the Yangtze River near the city's eastern coast. It features a distinctive single-pylon design and a graceful curved alignment.
| # | Name | Main span | Total length | Tower height | Location | Year completed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Changjie Bridge | 1,200 m | 2,600 m | 333 m | Jiangsu, China | 2024 |
| 2 | Russky Bridge | 1,104 m | 3,100 m | 321 m | Vladivostok, Russia | 2012 |
| 3 | Husutong Yangtze River Bridge | 1,092 m | 11,072 m | 330 m | Jiangsu, China | 2020 |
| 4 | Sutong Yangtze River Bridge | 1,088 m | 8,206 m | 306 m | Jiangsu, China | 2008 |
| 5 | Yingshang Bridge | 1,080 m | 4,200 m | 290 m | Anhui, China | 2023 |
| 6 | Nanjing Qixiashan Yangtze River Bridge | 1,048 m | 5,800 m | 270 m | Nanjing, China | 2022 |
| 7 | Stonecutters Bridge | 1,018 m | 1,596 m | 298 m | Hong Kong, China | 2009 |
| 8 | Tatara Bridge | 890 m | 1,480 m | 220 m | Hiroshima, Japan | 1999 |
| 9 | Pont de Normandie | 856 m | 2,143 m | 215 m | Normandy, France | 1995 |
| 10 | Shanghai Yangtze River Bridge | 830 m | 3,714 m | 210 m | Shanghai, China | 2009 |
Bridges are ranked by the length of their main span in metres, defined as the longest unsupported distance between the two main towers of a cable-stayed bridge. Only completed bridges with a cable-stayed design are eligible; suspension bridges, extradosed bridges, and other designs are excluded. Rank 1 is the longest main span. All figures are drawn from structural engineering databases and official bridge documentation; a reader can reproduce the order by sorting reported main-span lengths in descending order.
The Changjie Bridge in Jiangsu, China, has the longest cable-stayed main span in the world at 1,200 metres, completed in 2024.
In a cable-stayed bridge, the deck is supported directly by cables running from the towers, creating a fan-like pattern. In a suspension bridge, the deck hangs from main cables that are anchored at both ends and draped over the towers.
China has by far the most long-span cable-stayed bridges, with the majority of the top ten longest spans located on the Yangtze River and its tributaries.
Engineers believe cable-stayed bridges can reach main spans of up to 1,400-1,600 metres with current materials and design techniques. Beyond that, suspension bridges become more economical.