China begins building giant bridge

China has begun building one of the world’s longest bridges south of Shanghai, adding to an ambitious series of dams, railway lines and other massive construction projects.

Work on the bridge, more than 22 miles long, across Hangzhou Bay, began yesterday.

The bridge is to open in 2009.

Hangzhou Bay is at the centre of a booming, densely populated region that includes Shanghai, the Chinese commercial capital, and the major port of Ningbo.