Chicago on the Yangtze

[M II A II R II K]

World’s Fastest-Growing Megalopolis Hides in Fog


August 25, 2010

By Pete Brook

Read More: http://www.wired.com/rawfile/2010/08/chongqing/?pid=130&viewall=true

China’s Chongqing municipality with a population now at 32 million is the fastest-growing urban center on Earth. Economic migrants from the countryside and neighboring provinces have swelled Chongqing at a rate of between 500,000 to 1 million people every year. A decade ago — as part of plans to raise living standards in the western provinces — the Chinese government put Chonqing at the center of a $200 billion program of investment in infrastructure and commerce. The Guardian has described it as “the biggest megalopolis you’ve never heard of.” City of Ambition, an online “gallerybook” by Turkish photographer Ferit Kuyas, is a spectral and haunting look at the drastic urbanization of what was once a relatively modest-sized metropolis. Chongqing’s population in its main urban areas was a little over 5 million in 2000. By 2020 it’s estimated that it will be 20 million.

- Chongqing is as renowned as San Francisco for its fog, and it is the defining element of Kuyas’ series. “At the beginning of the project I had expected harsh strong light,” says Kuyas. “On my first day shooting in October 2005 there was fog and a drizzle. I wanted to postpone but my sister-in-law who later turned out to be my photo assistant said that the weather would be like this during all three weeks of my stay. So I had to become friends with the fog. Today I see the fog as gift.” “The fog serves as metaphor for today’s China with all it’s mysteries,” he says. “We can see clearly what is in the foreground. This is today: We know what’s going on. The things far away are partly or completely hidden: This is the future — we have expectations but we don’t really know.”

- While some Chongqing citizens are proud of the city’s emergence, others have suffered — forced out their homes by the clearance of city blocks for construction of new apartments. Many of those displaced are unable to afford the new higher rents. With change occurring at such a wicked pace and Kuyas working on City of Ambition between 2005 and 2008, how much longer does it — can it — remain relevant? Kuyas responds, “City of Ambition is a map of economic growth and of hope for the future. But it also breathes with history, social change and the exploitation of nature. All this is true for the whole of today’s China.”

[MolsonExport]

Alls I knows is that I don't wanna get caught in any Chinese 100+ km traffic jams.

[Steely Dan]

Chongqing’s population in its main urban areas was a little over 5 million in 2000. By 2020 it’s estimated that it will be 20 million.

HOLY SWEET FLYING FUCK!

that's obviously where the chicago comparison is coming from. in the 19th century, chicago went from an uninhabited swamp to a metropolis of 3 million in a matter of decades. its meteoric rise impressed the world. Chongqing is doing the same thing in the early 21st century, only way more insane.

[arlekin_m]

It's also obvious, if you read the article, that political power is one of the main reasons (aside from out-of-control population growth and rapid industrialization in a matter of decades) that Chongqing could compare to city like Chicago, instead of say Pittsburgh or whatever other midwest city you would wish to compare it too.

[Hot Rod]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

HOLY SWEET FLYING FUCK!

that's obviously where the chicago comparison is coming from. in the 19th century, chicago went from an uninhabited swamp to a metropolis of 3 million in a matter of decades. its meteoric rise impressed the world. Chongqing is doing the same thing in the early 21st century, only way more insane.

Yep.

We're comparing Chongqing to Chicago because of it's 'boomtown' effect that is caused by development of it's industry and prominence. AND this leads to skyscrapers much in the same way for both cities.

Also, like Chicago; Chongqing is the country's biggest and most prominent inland city, and is also the biggest city for most industry sectors outside of the coast. Very true about the Political Strength of Chongqing, definitely the most inside of the country.

And Chongqing is following the Chicago Model in it's development, not taking a back seat to Beijing or Shanghai but doing it's own. Like Chicago, you just can't ignore Chongqing (anymore) given it's strength and might.

Really, there are a lot of similarities to Chicago other than geography, which is the ONLY similarity CQ has with Pittsburg. ...

[MolsonExport]

There's Chongqing, and then there is the Chunking Mansions.

[Nowhereman1280]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

HOLY SWEET FLYING FUCK!

that's obviously where the chicago comparison is coming from. in the 19th century, chicago went from an uninhabited swamp to a metropolis of 3 million in a matter of decades. its meteoric rise impressed the world. Chongqing is doing the same thing in the early 21st century, only way more insane.

Yeah I get it now. If only the article had taken the time to explain the comparison that is its title...

Also, holy crap 32 million is a lot of people. I imagine that will only continue to swell as the interior of China begins to catch up in terms of development with the coast. This could easily end up being China's and the world's largest city.

This really makes me want to get into Real Estate development there...

[quashlo]

Originally Posted by Nowhereman1280

Also, holy crap 32 million is a lot of people. I imagine that will only continue to swell as the interior of China begins to catch up in terms of development with the coast. This could easily end up being China's and the world's largest city.

Only because the municipal boundaries are far larger than the actual urban area. The figure of 32 million is for the entire municipality, which covers over 80,000 sq km—already the largest "municipality" in China in terms of population and area. However, the actual population of the Chongqing metro area is far less.

[vid]

That would be like making all of Indiana a single city and saying "Indianapolis, a city of 6 million"...

[Nowhereman1280]

Originally Posted by quashlo

Only because the municipal boundaries are far larger than the actual urban area. The figure of 32 million is for the entire municipality, which covers over 80,000 sq km—already the largest "municipality" in China in terms of population and area. However, the actual population of the Chongqing metro area is far less.

I dunno New York Metro is like 17500 sqkm and contains only like 19 million people. That's not that ridiculous of a difference. And just think that China's population is still 50% rural and that number is far greater inland. Those 32 million people are all going to move right on top of each other over the next 20 years or so.