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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsVisitors can go inside The Crystal, the elevated sky bridge at Raffles City Chongqing, through its public Exploration Deck. It opened on 30 May 2020—not in 2026—and offers a high-level panorama of the Yangtze–Jialing river confluence, including an outdoor glass-floor viewing area. The Crystal is one part of a much larger mixed-use development, and not every space inside the bridge is open to the public.
What is the “horizontal skyscraper”?
The Crystal is an enclosed sky bridge at Raffles City Chongqing in Chaotianmen, where the Yangtze and Jialing rivers meet. Suspended above four 250-metre towers, it links two adjacent towers by cantilever bridges. The public visitor attraction within it is called the Exploration Deck.
CapitaLand’s 2020 project description gives The Crystal’s dimensions as 300 metres long, 32.5 metres wide and 26.5 metres high, with a gross floor area of 10,000 square metres. The bridge also contains private-club and dining and bar spaces, so “open to visitors” does not mean that every interior area is publicly accessible. CapitaLand’s opening announcement describes the public deck and visitor route.
What can visitors see inside?
CapitaLand described the Exploration Deck as about 250 metres above ground, with a 270-degree panorama and an outdoor glass floor looking toward the meeting of the two rivers. Its opening-day route began on Level 1 with an exploration-themed exhibition, then continued by express elevator to Level 47, through a themed interior and pocket park, and out to the deck. The company said the elevator ride took about 52 seconds. That is the route as described at opening; exhibits and visitor arrangements may have changed since 2020.
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How the structure was built
The Crystal is a major steel structure rather than a lightweight architectural walkway. CapitaLand reported that it weighs 12,000 tonnes and is enclosed by about 3,000 glass panels and close to 5,000 aluminium panels. Construction of the bridge structure began in late 2017 and took about a year, according to the developer’s project account.
The developer describes a nine-segment build: four sections constructed in place above supporting towers, three central sections prefabricated on the ground and lifted into position, and two cantilever sections assembled in shorter pieces from the outer towers. The three central sections weighed up to 1,100 tonnes each and were hoisted to a height of 250 metres using hydraulic strand jacks. These figures are CapitaLand’s reported construction details.
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The supporting towers are part of the engineering story too. Structural engineer Arup describes four mega corner columns connected to each tower’s central core by diagonal outriggers and belt trusses. Perimeter belt trusses restrain the curved columns to help provide lateral stability. Arup’s Raffles City Chongqing project page also describes the broader complex as eight towers with retail, residential, office, serviced-residence and hotel uses.
How The Crystal fits into Raffles City Chongqing
Raffles City Chongqing is a mixed-use riverfront development, not just a viewing attraction. Safdie Architects says the design recalls Chaotianmen’s history as an imperial city gate and maritime trading post, and combines offices, homes, hotel and serviced-apartment uses, retail and recreation. The architect reports more than 30,000 square metres of public space. Safdie Architects’ project page explains the design context.
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Arup reports a total ground floor area exceeding 1,127,000 square metres for the development. That is a project-wide figure, not the size of The Crystal; CapitaLand gives the sky bridge itself a gross floor area of 10,000 square metres.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Visiting: reported tickets, hours and access
A Travel Wishlist visitor listing marked verified on 24 September 2026 reports the following ticket options and operating details. These are changeable secondary-source listings, so check them close to your visit rather than treating them as guaranteed current terms.
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| Reported option or detail | Listing information |
|---|---|
| Observation ticket | CNY 128 |
| Observation plus skywalk | CNY 198 |
| Concession admission | CNY 110 |
| Opening hours | 10:00–22:00 |
| Ticket sales end | 21:00 |
| Last entry | 21:15 |
The listing gives the entrance as Level 1, Raffles City Chongqing, 8 Jiesheng Street, Yuzhong District, and names on-site machines or the counter, Ctrip and Trip.com as ticket channels. It also identifies Chaotianmen station on Line 1 and Xiaoshizi station on Line 6 as nearby metro stops. These location and transport details are planning leads from the same secondary listing, not official attraction guidance. See Travel Wishlist’s visitor listing for its reported details.
The ticket distinction to check is whether you want the skywalk element in addition to observation access. The reviewed sources do not establish official accessibility rules, age restrictions, weather-closure policies or booking requirements; confirm those directly with the attraction before relying on a particular arrangement.
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