A ‘cyberpunk’ megacity in China is the world’s largest by population – yet it remains relatively unknown to many outside of Asia.
Chongqing, situated in the south west of the country, is home to a staggering 32 million residents – making it the only Chinese city with a population of over 30 million.
The sprawling municipality, which covers a whopping 31,815 square miles, is distinguished by its ethereal mountainous terrain and its complex, multi-tired infrastructure.
Chongqing is built on elevated, hilly terrain, resulting in a unique vertical layering of buildings, where entrances can be found on different floors of properties, while roadways and pedestrian walkways overlap one another across various heights.
The city’s skyline, meanwhile, with its neon lights and futuristic architecture, is often compared to cyberpunk and sci-fi concepts – with YouTuber Ben Morris calling it the ‘closest I’ve ever been to a real-life video game’ in a viral clip.
Despite its sheer size and jaw-dropping landscape, Chongqing is often overlooked by tourists, who might be more familiar with other major Chinese cities like Beijing or Shanghai.
Now, the spotlight is firmly on the ‘Mountain City’ thanks to its growing popularity amidst seasoned travellers, curious content creators and distinguished tourism boards.
The Lonely Planet travel guide describes the city as ‘the most important city in western China and the economic engine of the upper Yangzi [Yangtze],’ while highlighting the municipality’s ‘fantastic food and ‘charismatic geography.’
In addition, the Western China International Communication Organization says the complex design of the ‘internationally renowned 8D Magic City’ defies traditional urban planning.
Chongqing is positioned at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, serving as a major departure point for cruises with access to the breathtaking Three Gorges region.
In the city itself, the monorail winds its way through buildings and across hills, offering a unique and efficient mode of transportation that adds to the landscape’s impressive design.
The city played a crucial role as China’s wartime capital, making it a fascinating destination for history buffs, according to Travel and Leisure Asia.
It’s most famous for its hotpot – though it offers a more fiery and flavourful culinary experience compared to other regional variations of Sichuan cuisine.
Other notable Chongqing dishes include sliced meat with crispy rice, Jiangtuan – or ‘big-head’ – fish, Yongchuan bean sauce and pork leg cooked with rock candy.
Chongqing has also emerged as a major hub for laptop production and the overall electronic information industry.
The city was placed on the global stage after computer hardware company HP set up its base for laptop production there in 2009.
Other information companies have since followed suit, with firms like Foxconn, Quanta Computer, Lenovo and Asus, setting up successful operations in the Chinese megacity.
Driven by big data and artificial intelligence development, Chongqing has become an emblem of the fastest urban revolution on the planet.
Darkness for the city’s inhabitants is exacerbated by the fact it is enshrouded by a thick layer of fog for over 100 days of the year.
The city is also so built up, that it now has its own microclimate – bringing about humidity and sweltering temperatures of up to 40C degrees.
