Imagine stepping out of your apartment and finding yourself 10 floors higher—or lower—than you thought you were.
Welcome to Chongqing, a jaw-dropping megacity in southwest China where streets wind above rooftops, and trains shoot straight through buildings.
It’s not science fiction—it’s daily life for millions of people.
Chongqing has become something of an internet sensation, especially on TikTok, where visitors and locals alike share baffling stories of navigating its surreal landscape.
One creator joked, “In Chongqing, we never know which floor we’re on,” in a viral video with over 3 million likes.
That’s not an exaggeration.
This city is built on such extreme elevations that elevators, floors, and streets rarely seem to agree.
Welcome to the Cyberpunk Capital of the World
Nicknamed China’s “Cyberpunk City,” Chongqing feels more like a futuristic movie set than a real place.
It’s a concrete jungle of massive high-rises, sprawling highways layered one on top of the other, and an urban rail system that literally goes through apartment buildings.
What’s even more incredible? This isn’t some ancient metropolis that slowly evolved into a mega-city.
Just four decades ago, Chongqing was a relatively small town.
Now it’s home to 32 million people and spans over 31,000 square miles—nearly the size of Austria.
The Laptop Powerhouse You’ve Never Heard Of
Though little known in the West, Chongqing quietly powers a huge chunk of the global tech industry.
In fact, over half of the world’s laptops are manufactured here.
Major tech giants like HP, Foxconn, Lenovo, Asus, and Quanta Computer have all set up large-scale operations in the city, making it a global hub for electronics and data-driven innovation.
This rapid transformation is no accident.
Chongqing has been actively investing in artificial intelligence and big data to boost its industrial and economic power.
Today, it’s a prime example of China’s breakneck urbanization.
Eyes Everywhere: Life Under Watch
But this ultramodern vibe comes with a darker side—constant surveillance.
Chongqing is often ranked among the most monitored cities in the world.
Earlier this year alone, nearly 28,000 surveillance cameras and hundreds of sensors were added under a plan known as “grid management,” according to Radio Free Asia.
Locals are not only tracked by tech but also by human eyes.
Neighborhood watch groups report unusual behavior, a holdover from China’s “Sharp Eyes” initiative aimed at reducing crime—and potentially dissent.
Critics argue that this blanket surveillance tramples on privacy, but inside China, it’s simply a way of life.
For outsiders, however, Chongqing remains somewhat of a mystery.
Living in Layers — and in the Dark
If you live in the lower floors of one of Chongqing’s colossal buildings, sunlight may be a rare luxury.
The city is so densely stacked that entire communities exist in near darkness.
Add in more than 100 foggy days a year and a thick haze that rarely lifts, and it becomes clear why many say the city feels like it’s in a constant twilight.
As if that weren’t enough, summer temperatures regularly hit 40°C (104°F) due to the city’s tightly packed layout creating its own microclimate.
It’s hot, humid, and often oppressively dense—yet fascinatingly unique.
Bunkers, History, and a Hidden World Below
Chongqing’s past quietly peeks through its ultra-modern skyline.
During World War II, underground bunkers were dug throughout the city as bomb shelters.
Today, many of these shelters still exist—some repurposed, others forgotten, like secret chapters of the city’s history hidden beneath its surface.
For curious travelers and history buffs, the mix of old and new adds another layer to Chongqing’s mystique.
You could be walking through a bustling shopping mall, only to discover you’re actually on top of an old war-era bunker.
So, What’s Next for Chongqing?
As China pushes forward with technology-driven growth, Chongqing stands as both a marvel and a cautionary tale.
It’s a city where progress towers over tradition, where convenience comes with surveillance, and where innovation sometimes leaves daylight behind.
One thing’s for sure—whether you visit for its cyberpunk charm or study its social structure, Chongqing is unlike any city on Earth.
The question now is: will the future of cities around the world look a little more like this?