Chongqing- The sight of monorail trains passing through Liziba Station inside a highrise building made Chongqing an internet sensation overnight across China. This is Line 2 of the Chongqing Rail Transit system which first entered service back in 2004, the first straddle type monorail line natiowide.

In Mountain City, monorail trains glide swiftly along the tracks with their dragon-like chain of carriages, often passing alongside mountain ridges, across rivers, and even through bustling urban highrises.

While dual track subway lines are undoubtedly a familiar sight to most people, Chongqing has taken a novel approach thanks to its unique topography with countless bridges and sharp turns. Planners had to incorporate elements such as the need for reduced land usage, low noise, sharp climbs, and a short turning radius into their design concepts.

(Tu Yuting, an intern, also contributed to this report)