Living in Chongqing: China's "8D" city

Key Concepts

• Bang Bang Jun (棒棒军): Traditional Chongqing porters who carry goods using bamboo poles.
• Vertical Living: The adaptation of urban life to a significantly hilly and mountainous terrain.
• Choreography of Terrain: The idea that Chongqing’s urban development isn’t chaotic, but a deliberate response to its landscape.
• Adaptation: The central theme of how residents and architects navigate and shape life in Chongqing.

The Disappearing Tradition of the Bang Bang Jun

Chongqing is characterized by its hilly geography, and historically, this presented logistical challenges. For decades, the bang bang jun (棒棒军), or porters, were essential for transporting goods throughout the city. 63-year-old Xu exemplifies this dwindling profession. He currently transports wholesale goods for packaging and shipping, utilizing the traditional method of balancing loads on bamboo poles across his shoulders. However, the demand for bang bang services is decreasing due to improvements in road infrastructure and the increasing prevalence of doorstep delivery services. This decline is compounded by a lack of younger individuals entering the trade, signaling the potential disappearance of this cultural practice. The term bang bang jun itself originates from the sound of the poles knocking together during transport.

Adapting to Chongqing’s Landscape: A Newcomer’s Perspective

The video highlights the challenges of adapting to life in Chongqing, particularly for those new to the city. Gong Yupeng, a 28-year-old who moved from Shandong province to join his partner, describes the initial disorientation experienced upon arrival. This illustrates the significant adjustment required to navigate a city built on steep slopes. His experience underscores that Chongqing isn’t simply a visually striking cityscape, but a place that demands a fundamental shift in how one experiences urban space.

Generational Perspectives on Chongqing’s Transformation

The story of Chen Hao, a 63-year-old resident living on the third floor of a building without an elevator in Gangfeng village, provides a generational perspective on Chongqing’s evolution. Chen Hao and his father have resided in Chongqing since the 1960s, witnessing the city’s dramatic transformation firsthand. His daily routine – a decades-long climb to his apartment – exemplifies the acceptance and normalization of vertical living for long-term residents. Gangfeng village is noted as one of the last remaining old residential communities in Jiangbei district, representing a link to Chongqing’s past.

Architectural Responses to Hilly Terrain

The video introduces Li Weitao, an architect who has spent over a decade designing buildings in Chongqing. He emphasizes that the city’s hilly landscape presents a unique design challenge. From an elevated perspective, Li Weitao views Chongqing not as chaotic, but as a carefully orchestrated “choreography” – a city moving in rhythm with its terrain. This perspective suggests that the city’s seemingly haphazard development is, in fact, a deliberate adaptation to its geographical constraints.

The Essence of Vertical Living in Chongqing

The core argument presented is that vertical living in Chongqing isn’t about grand displays of architectural scale, but about adaptation. The city’s development and the daily lives of its residents are fundamentally shaped by the land and the people who have learned to live within its constraints. As Li Weitao states, “This isn't chaos, but choreography.” This quote encapsulates the central theme of the video: Chongqing’s success lies in its ability to harmonize with, rather than overcome, its challenging topography.

Synthesis

The video portrays Chongqing as a city defined by its adaptation to a uniquely challenging landscape. From the disappearing tradition of the bang bang jun to the architectural solutions employed by designers like Li Weitao, and the everyday experiences of residents like Chen Hao and Gong Yupeng, the video demonstrates how Chongqing’s residents and builders have learned to live with and within the hills and mountains that define it. The key takeaway is that Chongqing’s urban identity is not imposed upon the land, but rather emerges from it, one level at a time.