Chongqing in China Named as Cyberpunk Capital

Chongqing, a city in southwest China, has been crowned the 'Cyberpunk Capital of the World'. This nickname emerged as the video of the city's architecture went viral, which surprised the global community.

Quoted from Travel and Leisure, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, Chongqing is located at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers and was built along the Huaying Mountains. The city has extreme up and down landscapes, which help the three-dimensional city planning.

A person in the city walks on the ground floor of a large square, but turns out to be dozens of floors above another street level. Although not as popular as Shanghai or Beijing, Chongqing is the most populous city in China, with a population of more than 30 million.

The uniqueness of Chongqing lies in its urban layout, which is the main attraction for tourists and content creators. The iChongqing team from the Western China International Communication Organization calls the city a truly unique destination.

"Chongqing is truly a unique and incomparable city, not only in China but also in the world," the iChongqing team said.

Besides being known as the Mountain City and the Bridge Capital, Chongqing is also an important industrial center rich in history and modern culture. The city offers a relatively affordable cost of living as well as close access to various natural and man-made wonders.

One of the historic sites in the city is the Dazu Rock Carvings, a rock carving complex from the 13th to 19th centuries, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are more than 10 thousand carvings carved on steep hillsides.

However, the world's public attention is currently more focused on the 8-D magical terrain landscape and the three-dimensional urban aesthetics of Chongqing. Several locations are said to reflect cyberpunk nuances, including Hongya Cave, which combines traditional stilt houses with the glow of night lights and the futuristic backdrop of Qiansimen Bridge.

The most viral location in the city is Liziba Station, where the monorail line of Line 2 passes through the apartment building. The train passes every five minutes and becomes a favorite photo object for tourists.

Apart from its architecture and infrastructure, Chongqing is also famous for its strong-flavored cuisine, especially hot pot. The city has the world's largest hot pot restaurant, Pipa Yuan Hot Pot, which holds the Guinness World Records with a capacity of 5,851 guests.

"Through their lens, more and more people around the world are discovering China's cyberpunk-style city, but it is still warm and friendly," the iChongqing team concluded.