🇨🇳 3D/4D Chongqing: Why This City Feels Like a Real-Life Cyberpunk Movie
- Tarry Laurensia
- 17 hours ago
- 3 min read
I thought people were exaggerating when they called Chongqing a “3D city.” Until I got there… and immediately got confused. Not in a bad way—but in that “wait… how is this even possible?” kind of way. Because Chongqing isn’t just a city you visit. It’s a city you have to figure out.
First Impressions of Chongqing Cyberpunk City: “Why Am I on the 22nd Floor Already?”
One of my first moments in Chongqing: I walked into a building thinking I was on the ground floor…took an exit… and suddenly I was on what looked like the 22nd floor. No stairs. No elevator. Just… a different street level. That’s when it hit me: Chongqing isn’t flat—it’s vertical.
What Makes Chongqing a “3D City”?
Most cities expand outward. Chongqing expands up, down, and across at the same time.
Roads stacked on top of each other
Buildings connected to bridges
Entrances on multiple floors
Elevators that feel like public transport
It genuinely feels like you’re walking inside a layered maze. And honestly? Google Maps doesn’t always save you here 😅 Use local AMAP instead.
The Famous Train Through a Building (Liziba Station)
Yes, it’s real—and no, it’s not just a viral illusion. At Liziba Station, the train literally passes through a residential building. But what surprised me most wasn’t just the train…
It was the normalcy of it. People live there. Kids grow up there.And the train just casually passes through like it’s no big deal.
💡 My tip: Go a bit earlier before peak hours if you want a better viewing spot.
👉 You can also book a guided city tour that covers this spot + hidden viewpoints
Layered Highways That Look Unreal
At some point, I stopped trying to understand the roads.
You’ll see:
highways looping over buildings
bridges connecting mountains
multiple traffic levels stacked together
And at night? It gets even crazier. Lights everywhere. Cars flowing from every direction.
It feels less like a city…and more like a moving, living system.
Elevators as Public Transport (Yes, Really)
In Chongqing, elevators aren’t just inside buildings.
They’re part of how you move around the city.
Some areas have:
outdoor elevators connecting streets
long escalators between levels
vertical shortcuts that save you from climbing endless stairs
👉 Pro tip: If you want convenience, stay in a central area like Jiefangbei.
The Stairs… So Many Stairs
No one warned me properly about this.
Chongqing is basically a full-body workout.
steep streets
endless staircases
uphill walks everywhere
At one point, I genuinely questioned my life choices 😄
But then you reach a viewpoint…and suddenly it all makes sense.
When It Turns Into a Cyberpunk Movie at Night
This is when Chongqing really shows off. Neon lights. Glowing buildings. Foggy air (sometimes). Reflections on the river. It gives serious cyberpunk vibes—like something straight out of a futuristic film.
Best areas to experience this:
Hongyadong
Around the bridges
Skyline viewpoints near the river
👉 You can join a night view or city lights tour here.
My Honest Experience Navigating Chongqing
I got lost. Multiple times.
Sometimes I:
took a “short route”… that involved 200+ stairs
exited a building… into a completely different part of the city
But weirdly, that’s what made it fun. Chongqing forces you to:
slow down
explore
accept that you won’t fully understand it
And that’s kind of the beauty of it.
One Thing That Really Helps (Trust Me)
Because navigating is already confusing, you really don’t want connection issues on top of that.
👉 Get a China eSIM before your trip (so maps + apps work smoothly)
Tarry's Thoughts:
A City That Doesn’t Make Sense (In the Best Way)
Chongqing Cyberpunk City isn’t the easiest city to explore. But it’s definitely one of the most unforgettable. It challenges how you think about space, movement, and even direction.
And once you stop trying to “figure it out”…you start enjoying it a lot more. So, whether its for spring or summer, you better start planning to visit Chongqing, check the flight ticket from your country here:
Curious About My Chongqing Route?
If you decided to travel to Chongqing whether its solo travel or with friends or family, check out my Chongqing Itinerary here :)
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