Engineering marvels: From Forbidden City to HK-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge
2017-07-27 15:36:37 chinadaily.com.cn Feng Shuang
A screenshot of a video clip.
A short video clip recently attracted several online viewers shocked by the intelligence of Chinese ancestors in building wonderful architecture, such as the Forbidden City.
A miniature version of the Forbidden City building could still stay standing in a 10.1 simulated magnitude earthquake, according to the clip that was part of a television documentary from Channel 4 of Britain called Secrets of China's Forbidden City.
British experts said in the clip that the freestanding columns and flexible roof structure would help the building survive an earthquake, but the brick walls could not.
A screenshot of a video clip.
The documentary also attracted lots of foreign viewers as they praised the architecture.
Pat Forster, a Facebook user, said in a post that to have the skill to come up with such an amazing design without any of the equipment we take for granted today deserves great respect.
Another internet user Jeemar Perillo Kenneth Lim, said this is an architectural work of art.
Karen Tien Kay Lucy said that maybe it's time to visit the Forbidden City.
A section of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is seen on July 7, 2017. (Photo by CHEN JIMIN/CHINA DAILY)
Beyond ancient Chinese buildings, foreigners have also been moved by the modern engineering marvels of China.
British newspaper The Guardian praised the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge as one of the "seven wonders of the modern world near completion."
The main structure of the Y-shaped bridge is 29.6 kilometers long, consisting of a 22.9-kilometer bridge section and 6.7-kilometer underground tunnel. The total length of the bridge is 55 kilometers.
It will slash travel time between Hong Kong and Zhuhai from three hours to just 30 minutes, further integrating cities in the Pearl River Delta.
The Beijing-Xinjiang Expressway that was finished on July 15 has also attracted attention. The expressway has a total length of 2,540 kilometers, and it is the longest highway in the world that crosses a desert.
Foreigners praised the new express way as "Wow, amazing," "Excellent," and with thumbs up icons. Internet user Sally Slosser said, "China has much better roads than the US!"
The Forbidden City built 600 years ago still strikes the world, but meanwhile modern China continues to create new wonders, demonstrating the country's comprehensive strength in the world.
