Londoners might think waiting five minutes for the tube is pushing it, but in one city in China, commuters face a rather different challenge.
At Hongyancun Station in Chongqing, the station is so deep underground that it takes 10 minutes and several escalators just to reach the platform.
Located in the city’s Yuzhong District, the station, which opened in 2022, sits a staggering 116 metres below the surface – the equivalent of 40 storeys.
For comparison, the deepest tube station in London is Hampstead, which lies 58.5 metres below ground level – half the depth of the Chongqing station. Meanwhile, the deepest subway station in New York City is the 191st Street Station – about 53 metres below street level.
Hongyancun Station is located on Line 9 of the Chongqing Rail Transit system in an area known for its winding roads and never-ending hills.
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While the station was being constructed it reportedly took workers 38 minutes to climb to the top from the bottom of the station.
Now, if passengers want to reach the bottom, they can expect to take eight escalators to the platform.
One TikToker, @fischfs, filmed his descent, revealing sleek, grey, modern interiors and escalators which seamlessly connected passengers with the platform.
However, the quick descent can result in the passenger’s ears popping from the pressure change.
There is a quicker option to reach the bottom – a lift that takes just 53 seconds.
Thanks to the station’s unique design, it has now become a tourist attraction, with visitors travelling from all over the globe to experience the transportation system.
Where are London's deep-level shelters?
If a trip to Hongyancun Station in Chongqing isn’t on the cards, why not explore some spots closer to home with London’s deep-level shelters?
London’s deep-level shelters, built 30–40 meters underground during WWII, provided civilians protection from air raids during the Blitz and remain iconic underground landmarks.
- Belsize Park: The northernmost shelter built for WWII air raids, now largely forgotten but still part of London’s hidden history. You can find it with one prominent white entrance and a hidden ivy-covered twin near Costa.
- Camden Town: A wartime refuge beneath one of London’s busiest areas, now known for its street art-adorned entrance on Buck Street and a concealed twin behind the Jazz Cafe.
- Goodge Street: A central shelter, featuring the discreet Tottenham Court Road entrance and the historic Eisenhower Centre on Chenies Street.
- Stockwell: Home to a vibrant war memorial mural and a quieter twin hidden behind housing on Levehurst Way.
- Clapham North: A well-worn shelter with a graffitied green entrance and a hidden counterpart off Bedford Road.
- Clapham Common: Now repurposed into an underground farm, showcasing innovative use of historic spaces.
- Clapham South: The best-preserved shelter and remembered for housing Caribbean immigrants from the Windrush generation which opens for occasional tours.
- Chancery Lane: A partially constructed shelter later converted into a Cold War-era telephone exchange, with subtle remains visible on Leather Lane.
And it’s not the only unique attraction in Chongqing.
Its maze of multi-level buildings, neon-lit skyscrapers and futuristic architecture has earned it the nickname ‘cyberpunk city’ – due to its striking resemblance to the dystopian landscape of Blade Runner.
The city boasts 298 skyscrapers over 100 metres tall and 26 buildings exceeding 200 metres, ranking 15th worldwide for the number of skyscrapers and sixth in mainland China.
To put that into context, there are currently just 12 towers in London that exceed 200 metres.
Its multi-level layout means that many people, especially tourists, struggle to find the ground floor. There are even outdoor escalators that tourists can pay for, connecting them to different levels of the city.
Many are also drawn to a distinctive feature of the Chongqing Transit system – the Liziba Station, which runs between the sixth and eighth floors of a 19-storey building that also houses several apartments.
While it might seem like an example of poor planning, the station and the apartment block were intentionally designed and constructed as a single integrated structure.
The high-rise is composed of two separate areas: seven storeys on the lower part of the building are part of the station, and the other 11 floors make up the residential area.
Things to do in Chongqing
Once you’ve travelled around Chongqing by rail, it’s well worth taking to the water for a cruise across the Yangtze River, the third-longest in the world.
Not only can you see the famous Three Gorges Dam, you may even be able to get a glimpse ‘puppy mountain’, which has become a tourist sensation due to its resemblance to a dog’s face.
To get a feel for the city’s history, Ciqikou Ancient Town is a must, with a walk around its winding alleyways (largely featuring the likes of craft shops and old-style teahouses) like taking a step backwards in time.
Alternatively, learn all about its past at the Chongqing Industrial Museum, or soak up some serenity at the Laojun Cave Taoist Temple.
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Or, if shopping and nightlife are more your thing, head to the upmarket Jiefangbei district for designer stores and bars and restaurants galore.
Chongqing municipality is also known for its springs, so when you need a break from the hustle and bustle, Northern Hot Springs Park, Tianci Hot Springs and Southern Hot Springs Park are the places to be.
This article was first published on January 17, 2025.
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