Quanzhou Bay Sea- crossing Bridge on Fuzhou- Xiamen High-speed Railway

The Quanzhou Bay Sea-Crossing Railway Bridge represents a major engineering breakthrough, built with a suite of pioneering technologies. These include streamlined steel–concrete composite box girders, a bearing-free integral rigid-frame structure, non-coated marine-grade corrosion-resistant steel, a graphene-based heavy-duty anti-corrosion coating system, and full cantilever pouring techniques for multi-frame integral bridges. The bridge is designed to remain stable in strong winds, corrosive marine environments, wide and deep sea channels, and high seismic zones—all while running parallel to existing highway bridges.

The innovative structural approach achieved significant lightweighting and fulfilled green, low-carbon goals, with carbon emissions reduced by more than 75,000 tonnes. Globally, it set a new standard by increasing the maximum operational speed of sea-crossing railway bridges from 200 km/h to 350 km/h. This was achieved while ensuring smooth, comfortable, and high-frequency train operations, with a minimum departure interval of just 3 minutes and an average interval of 17 minutes—highlighting a remarkable leap forward in high-speed railway bridge technology.

The project also delivered the world’s first sea-crossing high-speed railway bridge designed to operate without wind barriers. Trains can run at full speed under wind conditions up to Scale 8 and continue safe operations even during storm winds reaching Scale 11. The bridge withstood the direct impact of Super Typhoon Doksuri, enduring wind forces up to Scale 15. It also passed dynamic inspections with trains operating at speeds of up to 385 km/h, eliminating the need for speed-restricted sections on the sea span.

Visually and functionally integrated into the surrounding seascape, the bridge stands in harmony with the adjacent highway bridge, forming a stunning architectural landmark in Quanzhou—a city with over a thousand years of history. As a vital link in China’s coastal high-speed railway corridor, the bridge enables a one-hour travel circle connecting Fuzhou, Quanzhou, and Xiamen. The vision of “riding high-speed rail while enjoying the sea view” has truly been realised.

Throughout the planning, design, and implementation phases, the project followed a transparent, inclusive approach. Input was actively gathered from the public, local governments, experts, and scholars. The development team adopted a collaborative "industry–university–research–application" model, guided by principles of integrity and openness.