20 Engineering Megastructures You Should See In China : Ultimate Bucket List (2026)
Introduction
Many people visit China for its mindblowing engineering marvels. China is famous for its gigantic megastructures and most of them have been built over the last 20-30 years.
Perhaps you’ve only heard of the obvious ones. There are a lot of engineering marvels that I, myself a civil engineer, have only noticed in the last couple of years.
For that reason, I have picked 20 of the most impressive engineering megastructures in China for you to visit.
This list contains megabridges, buildings, stations, a telescope, a stadium, an airport, and a dam. It does not contain skyscrapers which is covered in this article.
Chongqing wins with 4 entries, thanks to its incredible accomplishments in a highly mountainous area. New engineering landmarks are being added every year in cities across China.
If you get a chance to visit some of these structures, remember to check these out up close to get a sense of the scale and detail.
Wishing you an amazing trip throughout China! Do your best to “collect” as many landmarks as you can during your trip!
Interested in visiting China?
South China
1. Hong Kong Zhuhai Macau Bridge | 港珠澳大桥 | world’s longest sea-crossing with 3 cable-stayed bridges, an undersea tunnel and 4 artificial islands (55km), spanning the Pearl River
2. Shenzhen Zhongshan Link | 深中通道 | one of the world’s longest sea crossings with the 6th longest suspension bridge in 2025, cable-stayed bridge, and undersea tunnel, spanning the Pearl River
❗Check out my Hong Kong Ultimate Travel Guide + Shenzhen Ultimate Travel Guide
3. Huajiang Canyon Bridge | 花江峡谷大桥 | world’s highest bridge in 2025 - deck height at 625m above the valley, with one tower reaching 262m in height
4. Duge Bridge | 都格北盘江大桥 | world’s 2nd highest bridge - deck height at 565m above the valley, with one tower reaching 269m in height
5. Tsing Ma Bridge | 青马大桥 | longest road and rail suspension bridge, with 6 lanes on the top deck and 4 lanes on the bottom deck
6. Tian’e Longtan Bridge | 天鹅龙滩特大桥 | world’s longest arch bridge, spanning 600m
7. Fast Telescope | 天眼 | world’s largest single-dish telescope with a 500m diameter
East China
8. Hangzhou Bay Bridge | 杭州湾大桥 | one of the world’s longest trans-oceanic bridges with two cable-stayed sections (36km)
9. Changtai Yangtze River Bridge | 常泰长江大桥 | world’s longest cable-stayed bridge and tallest bridge (352m high)
10. Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay Bridge | 青岛胶州湾大桥 | one of the world’s longest cross-sea bridges, with suspension and cable-stayed sections (26km)
11. The Shanghai quartet | 上海四件套 | the tallest skyscraper quartet in the world
❗Check out my Shanghai Ultimate Travel Guide here
West China
12. Chongqing Metro | 重庆轨道交通 | especially Line 2 and Hongyancun Station - world’s deepest underground station at 116m below ground (39 floors)
13. Chongqing East station | 重庆东站 | world’s largest train station by total area
14. Chaotianmen Bridge | 朝天门大桥 | world’s longest through arch bridge, spanning the Yangtze River
15. Twin River Bridges | 千厮门大桥 + 东水门大桥 | iconic red cable-stayed bridges carrying metro, cars, pedestrians, and bicycles, a key part of the Chongqing skyline
❗Check out my Chongqing Ultimate Travel Guide here
16. New Century Global Center | 新世纪环球中心 | one of the world’s largest buildings by floor area
North China
17. Bird’s Nest stadium | 鸟巢 | world’s largest steel structure, weighing 42,000 tons
18. Beijing Daxing International Airport | 北京大兴机场 | world’s largest single-building airport terminal, shaped like a starfish
❗Check out my Beijing Ultimate Travel Guide here
Central China
19. Three Gorges Dam | 三峡大坝 | world’s largest power station by capacity, spanning the Yangtze River, the world’s third longest river.
20. Yangsigang Yangtze River Bridge | 杨泗港长江大桥 | world’s longest double-decker bridge and 2nd longest suspension bridge in China in 2025
Relevant articles to plan your trip 👇🏻
30 Futuristic Landmarks You Must See In China
30 Historical Landmarks You Must See In China
20 Natural Wonders You Should See In China
20 Scenic Towns and Villages You Should Visit In China
5 Skylines You Must See in China: A Full Guide (2025)
Prepare
How Long Should I Spend In China On My First Trip? Example Itineraries from a Chinese Traveller
Best Time To Visit China Without Crowds - Public Holidays To Avoid In 2025 and 2026
What Apps Do You Really Need As A Tourist In China? Super-Apps and Mini-Programs Unpacked (2025)
How Safe is China for Solo Travellers, Females, Families in 2025?
How To
How to Get The Best Deal For Hotels in China (2025 Guide)
How to Buy Tickets to Attractions in China (2025 Guide)
How Much Does It Cost Me For 3 Days in Shanghai? My Real Spend (2025)
16 Misconceptions and Mistakes All First Time Visitors to China Must Know!
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