Chongqing - Air raid shelters have long been a symbol of wartime safety for its residents. The city is estimated to have over 1,600 such shelters, covering an impressive 1.1 million square meters. This vast network sets Chongqing apart on a global scale.
The air-raid shelter group near Ninth Street in Jiangbei District. (Photo/Luo Bin)
A particularly mysterious complex exists among numerous air raid shelters in Chongqing's center area. With a labyrinthine layout, this underground network is hidden beneath the area stretching from Longtou Temple Park in Yubei District to Ninth Street in Jiangbei District.
It is by far the largest known underground structure in central Chongqing, earning it the title of an "underground city." Surprisingly, until recently, most Chongqing residents were unaware of its existence. This hidden treasure will see the light of day as a commercial project prepares to debut.
Resident Liu Bo, who has lived in a residential complex above the air raid shelter for nearly a decade, expressed his astonishment, "I had no idea there was an air raid shelter complex right beneath us."
What does this air raid shelter network in the heart of the bustling city look like? Cool breezes occasionally sweep through, and the cave's walls and ceiling are concrete with visible rusty steel reinforcements. It is about the height of two stories and wide enough to accommodate two trucks side by side.
As you navigate through the shelter, you'll encounter branching passageways at regular intervals, connecting to adjacent air raid shelters. The entire network forms a complex web, allowing access from one shelter to another.
Before this revelation, explorers spent over a month investigating the site and discovered 18 air raid shelters in the mountain, each with dimensions of six meters in height and width. The longest shelter stretches an impressive 520 meters. The entire air raid shelter complex covers an area of approximately 20,000 square meters and boasts excellent ventilation.
It was revealed that this location was the former site of the Chang'an Ordnance Factory, built in 1973 and completed in 1978. Now, the commercial potential of this former ordnance factory site has come to the forefront.
Inside one of these air raid shelters, a 500-meter-long space has been transformed into a restaurant with tables, chairs, and overhead lighting. This space is set to become Chongqing's largest underground hotpot restaurant, covering an area of 3,500 square meters and accommodating 208 tables. The largest communal table can host 48 diners simultaneously. Opening its doors to the public on October 27, the restaurant will operate 24 hours daily.
October 24, in a tunnel over 500 meters long, Chongqing's largest underground hot pot restaurant has been fully renovated and is about to open its doors to customers. (Photo/Luo Bin)
Beyond the hotpot restaurant lies a more ambitious vision: the development of the Hujiayan Cultural and Tourism Town. Set to adhere to the standards of a 4A urban scenic area, this venture promises to be a comprehensive cultural and tourism hub, elevating the "underground city" concept to unprecedented heights.