Chongqing- From June 17 to 24, four social media influencers from the United States, Italy, and Poland filmed in Chongqing. They immersed themselves in the vibrant culture and picturesque beauty of the relatively unexplored metropolis by international visitors, exploring celebrated landmarks such as the 'Monorail through Building' at Liziba Station, Hongya Cave, Chaotianmen Market, Huangjueping Graffiti Street, Taoranju Grand Garden, and the spectacular Dazu Rock Carvings.

Famous internet personalities Collin Abroadcast, Kaja Kubicka, Michele Ponte, and Food X Bert (from left to right) savoring Chongqing hotpot at the renowned Taoranju hotpot restaurant on June 21 (Photo/Yue Xingchen)

American video blogger, Collin Abroadcast, hosts a YouTube channel with over 1.5 million subscribers and an impressive 212 million views on his 103 videos. Collin's content mainly revolves around personal experiences bargaining in distinct markets worldwide. Having lived intermittently in China for roughly three years for work and travel, Collin voiced his excitement about returning to China, particularly Chongqing, stating, "I'm eager to explore the mysteries of this sprawling city. While Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen are usually the first cities that come to mind when one thinks of China, Chongqing is also a vast metropolis, and I'm excited to uncover its unique charm." Collin actually visited Chaotianmen Market, a big free market in downtown Chongqing, to explore local goods and film captivating bargaining exchanges.

Food X Bert (right) and Collin Abroadcast (left) in Chongqing International Communication Center (Photo/Wang Yiling)

Colin also enjoys interacting with Chongqing's locals, finding them amicable, candid, and warm-hearted. "We had a sincere taxi driver yesterday, he wouldn't even take us as he said it's only a 10-minute walk."

Polish travel blogger, Kaja Kubicka, a Fudan University alumnus, portrays authentic China from a foreign student's perspective on her YouTube channel, boasting 73,000 subscribers. She expressed her fascination with Chongqing's distinctiveness, saying, "Chongqing is unlike any other city I've seen in China or other Asian countries. It has a unique ambiance. I see why it's called a cyberpunk city, with its stacked buildings, the harmonious fusion of mountains and rivers, and the mesmerizing skyline. The sheer number of skyscrapers is astounding, providing a real sense of the city's grandeur." Kaja explored Chongqing in-depth and visited attractions like Huangjueping Graffiti Street and Liziba Station to observe the monorail through a building and enjoy a cup of tea at a riverside teahouse.

Kaja Kubicka photographs the hotpot while waiting for it to boil (Photo/Yue Xingchen)

Food enthusiast and American blogger, Food X Bert, who has visited 35 Chinese cities over the past decade in pursuit of exquisite cuisine, expressed his fondness for Chongqing's unique culinary delights. Robert lauded Chongqing's "mala" (numbing and spicy) flavor, particularly enjoying Chongqing hot pot and noodles. Sharing his impression of Chongqing's scenic allure, he compared the city to a magnificent landscape painting, saying, "Chongqing exudes a futuristic aura with its distinctive bridges and buildings perched atop mountains. It's an incredibly cool city. Despite being a popular tourist destination in China, Chongqing remains relatively unexplored by international visitors."

Food X Bert explores Chongqing street food (Photo/Yue Xingchen)

In April, Italian travel blogger Michele Ponte, boasting 81,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel, embarked on his Chongqing adventure. Over the past two months, he has released seven videos on YouTube featuring diverse aspects of Chongqing, including its cuisine, hair salons, and shopping experiences. 

Michele Ponte shoots the video "China shocked me in Chongqing!" at Jiefangbei (Photo/video cover)

While discussing the city's successful blend of the old with the new, the four influencers reached a consensus: they believe this fusion is one of the main reasons Chongqing is so distinctive. Kaja observed, "You have the new part on one side, and there's the old part of Chongqing on the other - these two worlds are perfectly combined here." Colin concurs that this blend is the primary attraction for Western visitors to China. 

Overseas influences experienced the Two-River Cruise in Chongqing on June 20 (Photo/Li Nanxin)

"Take your time. This is my top piece of advice for those planning to travel to Chongqing because you can't imagine this city's sheer scale," Kaja shares her tips for future travelers. Colin wholeheartedly agreed: "The first thing you should do is head straight to the top of the Chongqing World Financial Center (the city's tallest building) and look around. You'll be astounded by this sprawling city."