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ZHANGJIAJIE， Hunan Province， Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- In central China's Hunan Province there stands a glass bridge. Its Israeli designer Haim Dotan believes that this bridge symbolizes love and nature.
""It will be a new icon in China，"" he told Xinhua during an interview on Sunday， a week after the bridge opened to the public for trial operation.
Born in Jerusalem， Dotan has a historical connection with China that is central to who he is. His grandparents came to China in the 1910s， and in 1919 his mother was born in Shanghai.
""The Chinese saved the lives of my grandparents and gave life to my mother. I am alive because of China，"" Dotan said.
He first came to China 30 years ago and for Dotan it felt like he was returning home.
In 2010， he designed the Israeli Pavillion at the World Expo in Shanghai， where he met a client who asked if he could design a bridge in Zhangjiajie， an area famous for its scenery， particularly its otherworldly mountains， which appeared in the Hollywood blockbuster ""Avatar.""
""Nature is beautiful，"" Dotan said. ""But how can I design a bridge that is invisible and can disappear?""
Chinese philosopher Lao-tzu was an inspiration for Dotan. ""He once wrote that 'great music is unheard and good form is invisible，'"" Dotan said.
He decided to use glass and build the bridge in the shape of a butterfly， so that visitors feel like they are standing on the air. He used the color white for the handrails -- the colour of clouds.
The bridge is 430 meters long， six meters wide， with a glass-bottomed walkway that lays 300 meters above the canyon.
Comprising of 99 panes of three-layer transparent glass， the bridge set 10 world records for design and construction and went through many experiments to ensure safety.
""Mental safety"" is another issue.
""People feel afraid walking on the bridge if everything is transparent，"" Dotan said.
""We decided to have 60 percent of the bridge solid glass. People who are afraid can walk on the side and hold the handrail. People who are not so afraid can walk in the middle.""
A maximum of 8，000 visitors are allowed to cross the bridge each day， and a reservation must be made one day prior to visiting.
But the designer wants it to be more than a bridge.
""It could function as a stage for people to have concerts， dancing， fashion shows and even sports like bungee jumping，"" he said.
Above all， he would like to see it become ""a bridge of love.""
""Lovers can walk on the bridge， and say 'I love you'. Their voice will then echo through the canyon，"" Dotan said.
During construction， he once walked across the bridge with his wife. This experience now forms part of the bridge's story.
He points at people moving across the bridge: ""Look at those people. Some are standing， some are sitting， some are jumping. Some came under the stars， some came to see the sunrise. Everyone has a story. It is a bridge of stories.""
" Deron Williams is interviewed by China Daily at MasterCard Center in Beijing puma suede creepers grise , Oct 14, 2014. Photo by Wang Yuxichinadaily
Other players preparing for the second leg of the NBA Global Games in Beijing on Wednesday may not have the China connection that Deron Williams does puma suede creepers noir , and he said he's excited to revisit the country and connect with fans.
"It is great to be back in Beijing. It is my first time back since the Olympics [in 2008]. I had a great time before. I had great time this time as well. The fans have been great. People and China have been great. We've enjoyed this trip a lot," said the 30-year-old Brooklyn Nets point guard.
Williams' enthusiasm was in place over the weekend as Nets and the Sacramento Kings descended on Shanghai for a Sunday showdown that was attended by a raucous crowd of around 18 puma suede platform pas cher ,000 fans. On hand at the event were NBA legends Shaquille O'Neal, Daryl Dawkins and China's own Yao Ming puma platform suede rose , formerly of the Houston Rockets.
Williams, a former NBA All Star puma match 74 femme , said he was shocked to see how profoundly the Chinese people understand the game.
"China's fans are really knowledgeable of basketball. That is kind of evidenced by them cheering for hustle plays. Those things are definitely exciting to them because they know the game of basketball," said Williams after the game in which Nets edged the Kings 97-95.
Williams won a gold medal with Team USA at the Beijing Olympics puma fur slide grise , an achievement he placed as the proudest moment of his career. Chinese fans might have a different memory: his failed in-your-face dunk over Yao in the opening game against China.
"It was a foul!” Williams joked. "It should have been a foul. They didn't call it though.”
The rivalry between Williams and Yao dated to a year earlier, when Williams' team the Utah Jazz eliminated Yao's Rockets in seven games in the first round of the 2007 playoffs.
But Williams said he had much respect for Yao puma fur slide noir , who announced retirement in 2011 due to multiple foot injuries during his career.
"I really enjoyed playing against Yao. We had a tough series against them. We took the series to Game 7 in Houston. I am really sad to see his career cut short because of the injuries. He is so talented," he said.
"A great big man and a great person as well."
BEIRUT puma fur slide rose , Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Sigrid Kaag extended Wednesday her "deep condolences" to the families of Lebanese soldiers kidnapped and executed by the Islamic State (IS).
"The servicemen will always serve as a symbol of courage, commitment and dedication to their country puma fur slide pas cher ," said Kaag in a statement by her media office.
She commended the Lebanese army and security forces in their "continued efforts to safeguard Lebanon's stability, security and territorial integrity puma fenty bow kaki , including from the threat of terror."
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