Think you know Chongqing? 🌶️ Think again! This sprawling megacity in southwest China just dethroned Guangzhou as the country's fourth-largest economy in 2024, proving there's more to this mountain metropolis than mouth-numbing hot pots and gravity-defying architecture.
By the Numbers 📊
With 32 million residents (that's like combining NYC, London, and Seoul!), Chongqing generated 3.2 trillion yuan ($442B) in 2024 – outgrowing tech hub Shenzhen in GDP per growth percentage (5.7% vs 2.1%). Its secret sauce? A cocktail of manufacturing muscle (think: electric vehicles & smart tech) and Hollywood-worthy landscape
Lights, Camera, Economic Action 🎬
Over 100 film crews now chase the city's cinematic magic yearly. From the post-apocalyptic vibes of the tube-shaped Hongyadong apartments (seen in Better Days) to the historical Baisha sets where WWII epics film – even the Yangtze River bridges moonlight as action-movie heroes. Tourism has literally doubled since these blockbuster backdrops went viral on TikTok.
So next time you sweat through a hot pot feast here, remember: you're dining in China’s new economic engine room. 🚀
