The Ili River Third Bridge is scheduled to open on Sept 30 in the lli Kazak autonomous prefecture in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, aiming to enhance connectivity, tourism, and agricultural trade.

The bridge, a 2,080-meter engineering project that connects the Yining Industrial Park with the Qapqal Xibe autonomous county, will be a crucial link between the two areas. Designed with a unique "O-shaped" cable-stayed structure, the bridge spans 492 meters at its widest point, accommodating the complex geological conditions of the Ili River.

Zhou Xiangqiang, deputy director of the Ili prefectural transportation bureau, emphasized the bridge's dual role as both a critical transportation artery and a cultural landmark.

"The goal of the Ili River Third Bridge is to establish a key transportation node between Yining industrial park and Qapqal county, while also creating a city landmark that integrates transportation functionality with culture significance," Zhou said, adding that it will be both a convenient thoroughfare for the people and a window showcasing the image of the prefecture.

Yuan Meizhi, a villager in Qapqal county, said that the Ili bridges have significantly improved her life. "I've lived by the Ili River all my life, and it was never this convenient," Yuan recalled. "In the past, getting to the other side of the river meant taking a long detour. It took almost half a day just to reach the other side. Now, with the new bridge, it's just a matter of minutes," she said.