Chongqing: Lebendiges Leben in der größten Stadt der Welt

Pascal Derungs / 27.01.2024 Wolkenkratzer as far as the eye can see. Unheard-of nightlife, spicy food. „Promille drivers“ earn thanks to the 0 per mille limit. 32 million people live in Chongqing, the megacity in southwest China. It is the largest metropolis in terms of area in the world. With 82,403 square kilometers, the urban area has the same size as Austria. It was created on March 14, 1997 by separating from the eastern part of Sichuan Province and incorporating the surrounding metropolitan area. Since then, the population has exploded. Chongqing’s hills shape it into a 3D city. Although still relatively unknown in the West, Chongqing has long been a tourist magnet in China. This is due – in addition to the extravagant nightlife – not least to the impressive location of the city center at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers. The megacity of Chongqing wants to rise to the international league of top destinations. But it is the hilly structure that provides many spectacular views and photo opportunities. The city offers not only width, but also height and depth. The urban architecture plays masterfully with the vertical and gives Chongqing the nickname „mountain city“. Countless stairs and elevators transport people through the maze of densely built city center. This is vividly documented in the ZDF video report „Megacities – When Night Falls in Chongqing“. Countless stairs in and under the city connect neighborhoods and levels in Chongqing. Spectacular is a large square surrounded on three sides by various high-rise buildings. On the fourth side, however, the view goes down 22 floors into street canyons – because the square is also the roof of a gigantic complex built into the hillside. Also unique is a multi-story building that houses two gas stations – one on the ground floor and another on the roof. It’s no wonder Chongqing is also called a stacked or 3D city. At night, the city sparkles like a giant amusement park. In the last 10 years, countless new skyscrapers have sprung up, reports a tour guide. The skyline is dominated by a complex of eight skyscrapers on the peninsula between the two rivers, built by the Raffles Group from Singapore. At a height of 250 meters, a building part lies across three of these skyscrapers, called „Sky Walk“. The Raffles complex with the cross-laid Sky Walk dominates the skyline of Chongqing. Most buildings, both skyscrapers and bridges, are brightly lit at night. Many of them feature large-scale animated light shows on their facades. Together with the flowing light snakes of traffic, this makes the city appear as a pulsating organism from a science fiction movie from a panoramic view. The picturesque „old town“ of Chongqing has been completely rebuilt as a tourist attraction. The main attraction for tourists is the winding „old town“ with its narrow alleyways and countless street kitchens, souvenir shops, bars, and clubs. But nothing about it is old. The entire district above the riverbank was completely rebuilt. The most popular photo subject in Chongqing is the elevated train that runs through a high-rise building. A train that runs through the 8th floor of a building can only be seen in this city. To cope with the crowds of mobile phone filmmakers on the street, the city has built a special photo terrace. An estimated three to four thousand people pilgrimage to this place every day, according to a tour guide. The „hot pot“ provides drive and energy. Culinary dominance in Chongqing is the hot pot. It sits in the middle of the dining table and contains a boiling broth with offal, tofu, vegetables, and lots of red chili. Everyone at the table fishes out of the soup with chopsticks whatever they desire – as long as it’s spicy. Three days without hot pot bring bad luck, dictates a local to the ZDF team in front of the camera. Three days without a hot pot bring bad luck, says a proverb in Chongqing. The temple of the hot pot cult is a restaurant with over 6,000 seats, spread over several terraces in an attractive hillside location above the river. It is said to be the largest restaurant in the world. The locals proudly point to the „Guinness World Records“ award on a man-high illuminated display at the main entrance. A selfie is a must here. The largest restaurant in the world can accommodate 6,000 guests and serves almost exclusively hot pot. Chongqing attracts young people with a desire for freedom. The city is particularly attractive to younger generations who want to establish an independent existence from their families. The cost of living is significantly lower than in Beijing, Shanghai, or Shenzhen. With many employment opportunities in the flourishing cultural sector, it promises self-realization. The service sector attracts with a high degree of self-determination, such as courier and taxi services. A special feature are the „promille drivers“. Ordered via a mobile app, they set off on small, foldable e-bikes to help car drivers in need at night. Because of the zero per mille rule, they risk severe penalties if caught driving under the influence of alcohol. The promille driver provides a solution. He chauffeurs the intoxicated person home in their own car and folds his folding bike into the trunk so that it can be easily retrieved after the ride. Many young people offer these services, and for many, this is only their second job alongside their main job, which they pursue during the day. Spectacular bridges connect the different districts across two rivers. Pleasure seekers get their money’s worth because Chongqing never sleeps. The city offers not only culinary delights around the clock but also cinema, concerts, and endless parties. Surprisingly, given the rather rigid Chinese moral values, an LGBT scene has also established itself. However, the authorities prevent the planned ZDF interview with a drag queen. Nothing of this should be seen on Western television. As in China as a whole, social and political control permeates the otherwise liberal and generous public life in Chongqing. Surveillance cameras are omnipresent

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Chongqing: Vibrierendes Leben in der grössten Stadt der Welt

Pascal Derungs / 27.01.2024  Wolkenkratzer so weit das Auge reicht. Unerhörtes Nachtleben, scharfes Essen. «Promille-Fahrer» verdienen dank 0-Promille-Grenze. 32 Millionen Menschen wohnen in Chongqing, der Megacity im Südwesten Chinas. Es ist flächenmässig die grösste Metropole der Welt. Mit 82’403 Quadratkilometern hat das Stadtgebiet die Ausdehnung ganz Österreichs. Es entstand am 14. März 1997 durch Abtrennung vom östlichen Teil der Provinz Sichuan und Eingemeindung der umliegenden Grossregion. Seither explodierte die Bevölkerungszahl förmlich. Chongqings Hügel formen sie zur 3D-Stadt Obwohl im Westen noch kaum bekannt, ist Chongqing in China längst ein Touristenmagnet. Das liegt – neben dem ausschweifenden Nachtleben – nicht zuletzt an der imposanten Lage des Cityzentrums am Zusammenfluss von Jangtsekiang und Jialing Jiang. Die Megacity Chongqing will in die internationale Liga der

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