Along the Jialing River in Liangjiang New Area, tourists are taking photos of the night view at Hongya Cave, a popular landmark in Chongqing. (Photo/Liu Chan)

Chongqing - A new international image index of Chinese cities was recently released in Chongqing, ranking the city first in western China and eighth nationwide for its international communication power among 106 cities assessed.

As a megacity in the western region, Chongqing competes alongside traditional international communication powerhouses like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. This highlights the city's strong appeal to global internet users, thanks to its unique labels such as "Mountain City," "Hotpot," and "8D Magic."

Chongqing's international communication achievements stem from the influence of its distinctive labels and the shift in communication strategies. Guo Xiaoan, Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication at Chongqing University, stated that icons like "8D Magic" have deeply resonated with people, creating an image of the city as one full of futuristic appeal. Google Trends data shows that keywords such as "Chongqing Nightscape" and "Mountain City Walkways" have experienced periodic surges in search volume across North America and Southeast Asia.

The communication model has shifted to involve collaboration between the government, platforms, and overseas content creators. Guo noted that international creators widely shared and adopted the city's high-quality official videos, such as drone light shows and night lighting projects, thereby forming a complete communication chain. Foreign media coverage has become a stable foundation for Chongqing’s global influence.

In terms of international impact, Chongqing has risen from being a news topic to a global case study. Major international media outlets now reference it in high-level discussions. 

Reuters highlighted Chongqing's electric vehicle export system as a key example of "industrial upgrading in Western China," emphasizing the strategic value of its overland transport links to Europe. Bloomberg used Chongqing’s three-dimensional transportation and mountain renewal plans as a case study for exploring innovative solutions to urban traffic in high-density cities.

On social media, discussions about Chongqing’s urban landscape have expanded beyond superficial recognition to include topics such as urban governance and cultural life. After updates to the mountain walkway, it became a cross-cultural case study for European architecture observers discussing "accessibility in mountain cities," sparking high engagement across multiple platforms.

By 2025, international awareness and favorability toward Chongqing had steadily increased. The report notes that this shift is reflected in social media sentiment, user interaction, and content remixing. On TikTok, the hashtags #Chongqing2025 and #HongyaCaveNights amassed over 600 million views in the first half of the year, with discussions extending beyond the city’s appearance to deeper topics like lifestyle experiences and its future outlook, showcasing a deeper understanding of Chongqing.

Professor Lu Jiayin from the School of Journalism and Communication at Renmin University of China noted that Chongqing has transformed its natural resources, such as its "mountain city" and "hotpot" tags, into powerful international communication assets. He believes that by leveraging its dual identity as both an advanced manufacturing hub and an international consumer center, the city has attracted global attention.

He suggests that Chongqing's transition from "passive display" to "active dialogue" and from "traffic gathering" to "narrative grounding" can provide a model for international communication in Chinese cities in the new era—one that is both unique and sustainable.