Chongqing is famously known to many people because of the usual viral videos that depict trains passing through buildings and streets that appear to be floating high up in the air, among other things. However, Chongqing is not only about all the social media phenomena.
Rather than replicating familiar images, this journey aims to examine what the daily life of Chongqing is. In other words, the main question is what does Chongqing look like to ordinary locals, not to tourists who usually take the well-known videos?
Among the popular places to visit in the city is the well-known square which looks like the street level but is actually situated over twenty floors above the streets. Tourists are fascinated with this dramatic perspective but for locals it became a normal part of their life. The unique geography of the city gives rise to such landscapes that make it a tourist attraction.
The journey continues away from the viewpoints and into busy districts packed with food sellers, residences, and shops that are rarely seen in travel videos. Fresh fruit sellers, street snacks, and family-run stores give the area a more real feel than viral videos might suggest. Just a couple of minutes away from the popular spots, sightseeing turns into everyday life.
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Another well-known attraction is the Liziba Station where a metro train goes through a residential building. Footage of the place online usually lasts for a few seconds while the reality is much richer. Inside the building, there are places to shop and eat and a number of floors connected by escalators. It feels more like an ordinary shopping mall than an internet sensation. While the site is packed with tourists trying to film the train, the locals get on the train just to go to work as they would normally do.
The most astonishing finding during the trip was the hospitality of the locals. In small interactions with salespeople and townspeople, one could find the soul and nature of these people. Even simple situations like correcting an unintentional price overcharge are unforgettable.
Transport itself becomes part and parcel of the adventure. The Chengdu metro has a rich coverage all over the city, while hills and multiple layers of the roads create a unique travel experience.
Chongqing transforms when nighttime arrives and the city becomes alive. The lake reflects the brightly lit skyline of Chongqing and the buildings are decorated with light-ups, including Hongyadong complex, which is a shopping center with various shops and food stalls located inside. Although Hongyadong is often captured from the outside, the inside is busy with people visiting the shopping mall since everything is more practical inside than on the outside.
Chongqing highlights its technological advancements through one of the biggest drone shows. Thousands of programmed drones moving across the sky instead of fireworks show how Chongqing combines technology and entertainment, bringing millions of spectators on the weekend.
Far from tourists and main attractions, normal streets present visitors with a very different picture. Busy markets, malls, cafes, office people, and a million restaurants make the picture in the city where people continue to live their lives, paying no attention to the fame of Chongqing on social media.
The most unforgettable part of my trip must have been going up to the observation deck at Raffles City. The experience of walking on transparent platforms several hundred meters above ground was thrilling coupled with the stunning view from the top. Observing the chaotic landscape of the city from above provides clarity. Apparently confusing Chongqing becomes an excellent example of how man pays respect to the magnificence of nature and tries to integrate architecture into the landscape.
Chongqing seems to prove that a viral video is nothing compared to what this city can offer. It is possible to find breath-catching angles on the Internet but one needs to talk to people living in the city, eat local food, and go to the hidden streets of Chongqing in order to learn what this city is really about.
