The Hangzhou Bay Bridge in China is the longest sea-crossing bridge in the world at 36 kilometers long. It took 600 engineers, architects, and designers 9 years to plan and construct the $1.7 billion bridge, which opened in May 2008. The S-shaped bridge connects Ningbo and Jiaxing, cutting 120 km off the driving distance between Shanghai and Ningbo. It features a 10,000 square meter service center in the middle with a restaurant, gas station, hotel, and observation tower to view the tidal waves of Hangzhou Bay, which can reach speeds of 30 kph.