China’s Most Unreal Mountain Village — Right Under a Giant Bridge

Xinzhai in Aizhai Town, Jishou, Xiangxi, Hunan, China (Xinzhai, Aizhai Town, Jishou, Xiangxi, Hunan, China) is a mountain village located in the valley below Aizhai Bridge. Looking up, a huge suspension bridge stretches across the canyon and mountains; beneath your feet are quiet village roads, rivers, hillsides, houses, and real rural life. Here, modern engineering and a traditional mountain village form a very special contrast, giving this place a unique Xiangxi atmosphere. Aizhai Bridge is one of the most iconic examples of transportation engineering in China’s mountainous regions. It spans Dehang Canyon, with the bridge deck about 336 meters above the valley floor, a total length of about 1,534 meters, and a main span of about 1,176 meters. It opened to traffic in 2012. In the past, the high mountains and deep valleys made crossing the canyon difficult; with the opening of the bridge and expressway, this mountainous area became more conveniently connected to the outside world. Looking up at Aizhai Bridge from Xinzhai, you can feel the massive scale of the bridge more directly. It hangs in the sky like a long line of steel, while the village continues its quiet life at the foot of the mountains. For many foreign viewers, this may not be China’s most famous travel destination, but it reveals another real and striking side of China: beneath a spectacular bridge, people still live in a peaceful mountain village. This video takes you into Xinzhai at the foot of Aizhai Bridge, to experience the village scenery, daily rural life, and the fascinating contrast between modern engineering and the valleys of Xiangxi. Filmed in: April