China’s Hongqi bridge partially collapses months after inauguration, dramatic video emerges: ‘Speed of construction is not the flex’

In one video posted on X, a section of the bridge can be seen collapsing into the river below as a massive landslide hits its base.

Early findings stated that the collapse was likely due to geological instability in the steep, landslide-prone region (Image source: @BRICSinfo/X)

A newly inaugurated bridge in southwest China’s Sichuan province partially collapsed after a landslide sent the structure tumbling into a river, Reuters reported. The dramatic video of the Hongqi Bridge, a section of a national highway connecting central China and Tibet, shows the concrete span collapsing into pieces. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon.

In one video posted on X, a section of the bridge can be seen collapsing into the river below as a massive landslide hits its base. The video also captures a dense cloud of dust and debris filling the air. Within seconds, the bridge’s pillars plunge into the water.

Watch here:

JUST IN: 🇨🇳 Hongqi bridge collapses in southwest China, months after opening. pic.twitter.com/EK3YcWEjUy

— BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) November 11, 2025

The video quickly gained traction, amassing over eight million views and eliciting a range of reactions. “Speed of construction is not the flex that the CCP thinks that it is. They’ll probably execute the engineers and project managers and company owners and a few CCP stooges who supervised the project,” a user wrote. “Looks like it was more of a landslide than a bridge collapse. The majority of the bridge is still standing,” another user commented.

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“This incident highlights ongoing challenges with infrastructure in China’s mountainous west, where rapid development often intersects with seismic and landslide-prone areas,” a third user reacted.

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Reuters reported that the bridge was shut on Monday afternoon after cracks were discovered on nearby slopes and roads, and “terrain shifts were detected on an adjacent mountain.” Despite these precautionary closures, conditions worsened on Tuesday, triggering a massive landslide that destroyed part of the 758-metre-long bridge along with sections of its approach road.

Early findings stated that the collapse was likely due to geological instability in the steep, landslide-prone region. According to local officials, a comprehensive technical investigation is underway to determine whether any design or construction issues also contributed to the incident, the report added.