Inside China's biggest megacity, where 32 million people live in a land area the size of South Carolina and skyscrapers give way to vast farmland beyond the city center

Marielle DescalsotaFeb 4, 2022, 14:02 IST

People in Chongqing celebrate the eight-day long National Day holiday at Qiansimen Bridge over the Jialing River on October 5, 2020.VCG/Contributor/Getty Images

Chongqing is China's biggest megacity, with more than 30 million people living in an area the size of South Carolina.
Skyscrapers give way to vast farmlands, where many still live in rural conditions outside the city center.

This is Chongqing, the largest megacity in China. While it covers roughly the same land area as South Carolina, it's home to 27 million more people than the US state.

The city of Chongqing is one of the fastest-growing urban centers on the planet.Alessandro Rizzi/Contributor/Getty Images

The megacity is located in southwestern China.

A map of China.Google Maps

One striking feature of the city lies in its roadways. The city has more than 10 million kilometers of paved roads that link to the rest of China, according to CEIC Data.

Sprawling intersections in Chongqing.AerialPerspectiveImages/Getty Images

One striking feature of the city lies in its roadways. The city has more than 10 million kilometers of paved roads that link to the rest of China, according to CEIC Data.

Despite its enormous size, Chongqing is a relatively new city: It was only developed in 1997.

The Shibati Area, Chongqing in 2005.China Photos/Stringer/Getty Images

The city is one of the powerhouses of the Chinese economy, generating 2.78 trillion Chinese yuan ($438 billion) in 2020, according to state-run media outlet Xinhua.

These air corridors show the scale of structures in the city.VCG / Contributor

Chongqing is home to some of China's most prominent futuristic structures, including the world's longest horizontal skyscraper.

Chongqing's skyline, which includes the Raffles City building.China News Service/Contributor/Getty Images

But landscapes change dramatically in Chongqing — outside the city center of districts like Yuzhong, rice terraces abound.

An aerial view shows fields with distant hills, trees, farmhouses and roads in Chongqing.Future Publishing/Contributor/Getty Images

In recent years, Chongqing has become an unlikely social media star, garnering attention on social media platforms like Tiktok.

Rows of taxis wait at Chongqing Jiangbei Airport.Aerial Perspective Works/Getty Images

The city also has a culinary claim to fame: Nicknamed 'Hot Pot City,' Chongqing is considered the birthplace of the infamously spicy Sichuan mala hot pot.

Citizens bathe in a red hot spring in the shape of a giant hot pot made of traditional Chinese medicine herbs and red wine at the Chongqing Ronghui Hot Spring Resort.China News Service/Contributor/Getty Images

The city is also home to a futuristic bookstore that drew international headlines when it opened its doors in 2020.

The bookstore is mirrored and has spiral staircases.Future Publishing/Contributor/Getty Images

Last but not least, the city also has one the world's most bizarre amusement park rides.

Tourists stand on the viewing platforms in the hands of a pair of robotic sculptures beside a cliff edge at Baima Mountain tourist resort.VCG/Contributor/Getty Images

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Inside China's biggest megacity, where 32 million people live in a land area the size of South Carolina and skyscrapers give way to vast farmland beyond the city center

This is Chongqing, the largest megacity in China. While it covers roughly the same land area as South Carolina, it's home to 27 million more people than the US state.

The megacity is located in southwestern China.

One striking feature of the city lies in its roadways. The city has more than 10 million kilometers of paved roads that link to the rest of China, according to CEIC Data.

Despite its enormous size, Chongqing is a relatively new city: It was only developed in 1997.

The city is one of the powerhouses of the Chinese economy, generating 2.78 trillion Chinese yuan ($438 billion) in 2020, according to state-run media outlet Xinhua.

Chongqing is home to some of China's most prominent futuristic structures, including the world's longest horizontal skyscraper.

But landscapes change dramatically in Chongqing — outside the city center of districts like Yuzhong, rice terraces abound.

In recent years, Chongqing has become an unlikely social media star, garnering attention on social media platforms like Tiktok.

The city also has a culinary claim to fame: Nicknamed 'Hot Pot City,' Chongqing is considered the birthplace of the infamously spicy Sichuan mala hot pot.

The city is also home to a futuristic bookstore that drew international headlines when it opened its doors in 2020.

Last but not least, the city also has one the world's most bizarre amusement park rides.