October 18th 2024.
Have you ever imagined living in a city where roads are built on top of residential towers, trains pass through blocks of flats, and skyscrapers seem to stretch endlessly into the sky? Well, that city actually exists and it's not from a futuristic science fiction film. Welcome to Chongqing, a bustling metropolis located in southwest China that has been compared to a game of Tetris in terms of its urban planning.
Nestled in a hilly and mountainous region at the intersection of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, Chongqing is known for its maze of multilevel buildings, neon-lit skyscrapers, and futuristic architecture. It's no wonder it has been nicknamed the 'cyberpunk city' and has fascinated tourists from all over the world. Recently, the city has gained even more attention on social media, particularly TikTok, after a resident named Jackson Lu shared just how unique and difficult it is to navigate the city.
In a video that has now been viewed over 31 million times, Jackson takes viewers on a journey through the city. He starts by filming his descent from his 18th-story apartment, which surprisingly has no elevator. But what's even more surprising is that the 'ground floor' is actually on the 12th floor. As he walks over a bridge walkway, he points out the apartments below, explaining that the residents have to climb up to their homes and sunlight is a luxury for them.
Next, Jackson takes us to the subway station, which he describes as feeling like a 'Fallout Shelter'. He then boards an elevated monorail that feels more like a rollercoaster ride as it passes directly through residential buildings. Finally, he reaches the city square, only to realize that he's actually on the 22nd floor of his office building. The ground floor of his apartment block is on the 12th floor and the city square itself is 22 stories up in the air. The view from there is both breathtaking and stomach-churning as he captures the bustling cityscape below.
Chongqing's unique layout can be attributed to its history as a wartime capital during World War II. After the invasion of mainland China by Imperial Japan, the city became a refuge for civilians, soldiers, and government officials. This led to a rapid increase in population density and in 1997, Chongqing was established as a municipality, granting it greater administrative autonomy. Today, the city is home to over 30 million people, making it one of the largest and most densely populated cities in the world.
The demand for space and the city's explosive economic growth have resulted in a construction boom, with Chongqing's skyline shooting upwards, especially in the last decade. It now boasts 298 skyscrapers over 100 meters tall and 26 buildings exceeding 200 meters, ranking 15th worldwide for the number of skyscrapers and sixth in mainland China. To put that into perspective, London only has 12 towers that exceed 200 meters.
Due to this unique layout, many people, especially tourists, struggle to find the ground floor. To make things easier, there are even outdoor escalators that tourists can pay for to connect them to different levels of the city. In another video that has been viewed over 15 million times, Jackson takes us on a journey to find the ground floor in Chongqing, discovering more and more levels until he finally reaches the bottom. He jokes that in this city, you never really know what floor you're on.
The city's transport system is also incredibly unique, particularly the Liziba Station, part of Chongqing Rail Transit 2. This station can be found between the sixth and eighth floors of a 19-story building, which also includes several apartments. While it may seem like poor planning, the station and block of apartments were actually planned and built together as one structure. The high-rise is composed of two separate areas, with the lower seven floors being part of the station and the other 11 floors making up the residential area.
To make life easier for the residents, the building is equipped with noise reduction systems to isolate the sound made by the train passing through. Jackson's TikTok videos have received thousands of comments, with viewers baffled by the never-ending maze. One person wrote, 'The whole city feels like an optical illusion', while another claimed they would be constantly lost. Even a local chimed in, saying, 'For those asking how Google Maps works, it doesn't. I still get lost in my own city.'
Despite not being as well-known as cities like Beijing or Shanghai, Chongqing's unique design has made it a popular tourist attraction. Aside from marveling at the city's architecture, tourists can also explore its historic Ciqikou Ancient Town, enjoy various street food options, and take a boat ride along the Yangtze River, the third longest river in the world.
Do you have a story to share about your travels to Chongqing or another interesting city? We would love to hear it! Get in touch by emailing us at [email].
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
