Why tourists are flocking to Chongqing, China’s surreal sci-fi city

Chongqing’s futuristic riverside urban charm

Chongqing, where the Yangtze and Jialing rivers meet, rises in cliff-like tiers that seem to defy the laws of physics at first glance. Trains pierce through squares of high-rise flats, freeways wind up like corkscrews, and roof levels rest as public piazzas dozens of stories above. The skyline lights up in neon at night, a hallmark of comparisons to "Blade Runner" sets. A lot of the charm for many visitors, the Wall Street Journal noted, is the juxtaposition of the space-age buildings and lived-in enclaves where life goes on much the same as it has for decades.

From trivia bite to viral phenomenon

Up until now, Chongqing was known to outsiders either as China's largest city or as the Nationalists' World War II wartime capital. That all ended with viral internet videos that spotlighted its "impossible" architecture—trains vanishing into skyscrapers, riverfronts aglow with neon lights, and sweeping flyover highways. These videos repositioned its image, appealing to domestic as well as foreign tourists. The city registered 120 million overnight guests in 2024 alone, a surge fuelled by influencers and tourists seeking an in-real-life cyberpunk experience.

The battle between new and old

Part of the pleasure of Chongqing is the contrast between its sleek high-rises and the 1980s walk-ups still dotted across its hillsides. In both these older neighbourhoods, clothes are hung to dry in metal cages outside windows, and retirees spend their days in smoky parlours playing mahjong. Only a few minutes' stroll away, glass skyscrapers surround the rivers with state-of-the-art lighting displays. This blend of centuries fascinates visitors and locals alike. As one young guide put it, it is not just the space-age skyline but also "the collision between the old and the new" that draws.

City centre food

No visit to Chongqing would be complete without sampling its famously spicy hot pot. This oil foaming, chili, Sichuan peppercorn foaming kettle is social ceremony and repast. Locals tell new arrivals to ease into the heat, and they suggest the bifurcated "yuan yang" pot, spicy half, not spicy half. Other than hot pot, streets are lined with street vendors selling sour-spicy noodles, chili oil-drenched skewers, and neon-lit late-night snacks. The food here is not simply fuel; it is a sizzling expression of the personality of the city.

The best time to come

The best months to go to Chongqing are spring and autumn, when the temperature is pleasant and the skies clearer. Summer is hot—the city has the reputation of being one of China's "three furnaces"—but even then, evenings spent by the rivers get taken over by awe-inspiring spectacle of light displays. Winter means mist, which bathes the skyline in a mystical, almost-filmic appearance. For most travellers, it all adds to the otherworldly nature of the city.

Getting around the megacity

The majority of foreign visitors travel to Chongqing in transfers in Beijing, Shanghai, or Chengdu since direct flights remain scarce. City travel, however, is more than a mode of transportation—it is part of the adventure, with cliffs, rivers, and skyscrapers on display. Visitors soon realize, however, that Chongqing was built on hillside land, and stairways aplenty link neighbourhoods. Patience and sturdy shoes are required to navigate a city where living vertically defines everyday life.

Why now is the time

Chongqing is at a "Goldilocks" point for tourists. The city is enough modernized to be easily accessed with translation software and mobile payments, yet not overwhelmed by overseas travellers. Travelers still end up surprised by hidden alleys, local markets, and encounters with residents. For the majority, the mix of vertigo-inducing skyscrapers, smelly food, and cinematic nightscapes makes Chongqing more than a destination to go to but an experience unlike any other place on earth.