Three landmark cross-sea bridges on Fuzhou-Xiamen railway

The 277-kilometer Fuzhou-Xiamen high-speed railway is China's first cross-sea high-speed rail line designed for speeds of 350 kilometers per hour. It crosses three major coastal bays — Quanzhou Bay, Meizhou Bay, and Anhai Bay — in East China's Fujian province.

Quanzhou Bay Bridge

The 20.305-kilometer Quanzhou Bay Bridge includes an 8.96-kilometer over-sea section. At its center stands an 800-meter cable-stayed bridge supported by two towers, allowing ships to pass underneath.

Meizhou Bay Bridge

The Meizhou Bay Bridge stretches 14.7 kilometers, with 10 kilometers extending over the sea. Designed to withstand Category 14 typhoons, the bridge posed major engineering challenges during construction, requiring large-scale concrete casting operations above open waters.

Anhai Bay Bridge

Stretching 9.5 kilometers across Anhai Bay, the bridge has a 300-meter central span. High-speed trains traveling at up to 350 kilometers per hour can cross it in just 98 seconds.

To withstand strong coastal winds, the bridge incorporates aerodynamic features that reduce vibrations and help keep high-speed trains running smoothly.