Chongqing's 'Cyberpunk City' Boom Captivates Global Travelers and Redefines Urban Tourism
Chongqing, a sprawling metropolis in southwestern China famously dubbed the “cyberpunk city,” is witnessing a tourism renaissance as its futuristic architecture, dramatic landscapes and viral online presence propel it onto the global stage. Once bypassed in favor of more established Chinese destinations, Chongqing has rapidly become a must-see city for international visitors, with inbound tourism figures smashing records and transforming the local economy.
For many international travelers, images and videos of Chongqing circulating on social media platforms have sparked curiosity about its labyrinthine streets, multilevel skyscrapers, and dazzling neon nightscapes. According to a recent CNN report, the city is so vertically layered and intertwined that one visiting vlogger described it as “peering into the future,” while others have called it “China’s 8D city” in reference to its multidimensional urban design. This renaissance is not merely of viral interest—official statistics reveal real and sustained momentum: Chongqing received 1.3 million inbound tourists in 2024, representing a staggering year-on-year increase of 184%. In early 2025, inbound foreign arrivals through city ports spiked another 60%, cementing the city’s newfound global appeal.