The Pygmy Seahorse
The Natural Arch and Bridge Society was established by Jay Wilbur, an aerospace engineer, in 1988 for like-minded enthusiasts. In 2009, Wilbur was astounded by what he discovered while searching Google Earth: a rock span over China's Buliu River that neither a travel guide nor anyone at NABS had ever heard of, but that seemed to dwarf any of Utah's arches. Due to its dramatic and otherworldly appearance, the locals refer to it as "Fairy Bridge"—Xian Ren Qiao.
If it weren't for an American arch enthusiast and climber named Jay Wilbur's knowledgeable eye and diligent research, the largest natural arch in the world, at 120 meters, might still be hidden in secluded China from the majority of the world.
NABS found it challenging to reach and measure Xianren Bridge. It is located in the rough karst region of southern China, 25 miles north of the nearby town of Fengshan. To get to the bridge from upstream, it takes three hours and several rapids in a rubber raft. You can board bamboo rafts that locals will pole upstream to the bridge from downstream and ride there. The span of the Xianren Bridge was measured by NABS surveyors in 2010, making it the world's longest arch or bridge by a significant margin at 400 feet.
- Where: Xianren, Guanxi Autonomous Region, China
- Year of Discovery: 2010
