The main section of the Beijiang Grand Bridge, a critical project of the Qingxin-Huadu Expressway in Guangdong province, was successfully joined on Wednesday, laying a solid foundation for its opening by the end of the year.

After the joining, the magnificent bridge, spanning the Beijiang River, began to reveal its imposing form, with four cable towers shaped like phoenix tail feathers.

Construction on the 1,440-meter bridge began in October 2022. The project has faced an uphill battle against complex geological conditions, according to Zhou Wei, director of the Qingxin-Huadu Expressway management office.

"The bridge site is characterized by extremely well-developed karst formations," said Zhou, adding that the construction must pass through multiple caves. "Any slight misstep could lead to a cave-in or flooding."