On Aug. 20, the world's longest and highest glass-bottomed bridge opened, spanning a valley in Zhangjiajie in China's Hunan province. The engineering feat — tested for safety with demonstrations including driving a car on on the glass and repeatedly hitting it with large hammers — was immediately popular.
But now the attraction is closed until further notice, and it's not entirely clear why. One official told CNN the bridge is temporarily shut down not because of any structural defects or cracks but because the landmark is "overwhelmed by the volume of visitors." The bridge is designed to hold 8,000 people per day, but the official said as many as 80,000 tourists are showing up daily. Meanwhile, the BBC reports other Chinese officials said the bridge was indeed closed for repairs.
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