A technical standard for glass walkways at scenic spots has recently been released in Hebei province to better ensure the safety of tourists
Approved by the Hebei Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the technical standards will take effect on Aug 1. Pedestrian volume per square meter of glass will be limited.
“The aim is to provide a formal standard for all glass walkways in Hebei to better ensure safety,” Li said.
More scenic spots nationwide have added glass-floored walkways in recent years to attract tourists, such as a 430-metre-long glass bridge in Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon in Hunan province and a 95-metre-long glass walk on a cliff at Mount Baishishan scenic spot in Baoding, Hebei.
The breathtaking experience while walking on glass high above the ground is a major feature that attracts tourists and fuels the booming popularity of the structures.
The province of Hebei is the first one in China to have rolled out such standard. It provides specific guidelines for location, materials, design, construction, inspection and management.
Guardrails along the edges of glass walkways should be strong and reliable, and additional protective equipment should be installed in potentially dangerous sections, it added. The walkways should be closed when the weather or ground conditions are bad, including times of typhoons, heavy rains, thunderstorms or mountain torrents.
All scenic spots that have one or more glass walkways are required to strictly abide by the standards.