As a Chinese student, I'm proud of the bridge and am really exciting to see the official opening ceremony on TV. The bridge, it is said, have welcomed more than 80 thousand lorries a day. It will reduce the travel time, which will benefit both the people and the economy. Wish bright future of it.

May, Jinhua, China

As a citizen of CiXi the city which is the jumping-off point of the cable-stayed bridge, I am very proud of it. Although I was watching the ceremony online at home that day, I felt the heat atmosphere through the TV. The bridge was open to traffic at 23:58, and I heard that the first car had been waited there since 8:00 a.m. Besides, during these 3days, there were billions of cars got across the bridge. I am in the full conviction that the opening of this bridge will bring more flourish to our economy.

Akira, CiXi, China

From this issue, we can see some things. The first is our government is becoming more and more democratic. The first time that China’s private sector had been allowed to put money into a major public infrastructure work. This is really a big step towards democracy. The second is Zhejiang merchants are really successful, powerful about 30 per cent of the project fund was provided by private investors. In the meantime, we can Zhejiang merchants are plucky and far-sighted. The capital costs should be recovered in 15 years. It is a long-term investment. It do great deal to the future.

Joy, zhejiang, China

From this issue, we can see some things. The first is our government is becoming more and more democratic. The first time that China’s private sector had been allowed to put money into a major public infrastructure work. This is really a big step towards democracy. The second is Zhejiang merchants are really successful, powerful about 30 per cent of the project fund was provided by private investors. In the meantime, we can Zhejiang merchants are plucky and far-sighted. The capital costs should be recovered in 15 years. It is a long-term investment. It do great deal to the future.

Joy, Jinhua, China

A website dedicated to the bridge, http://www.hangzhoubaybridge.com/default.asp, describes itself as "the longest sea-crossing bridge in the world" as opposed to the longest road bridge.

Tom Tatlow, Cary, NC, USA

I believe you will find the world's longest road bridge is in Louisiana in the USA: the Lake Pontchatrain Causeway near New Orleans links Metairie to Mandeville, and spans 24 miles (~40 km). It is not an engineering marvel, but it is longer by a few km. Sorry China.

C Bozner, London,

Brilliant engineering achievement by China.

B.A. Solangi, Ilford, Essex, UK