Chongqing - On September 18, Chongqing looked beyond its famous mountains, bridges and dramatic skyline to show 35 journalists from 31 countries another side of the city as a global consumer destination during the 2026 “Discover China” international media tour.

Members of the media delegation pose for a photo at the entrance of Underground City · Air-raid Shelter Old Hotpot in Chongqing on September 18, 2026. (Photo/Xinhua)

Through field visits and interviews, the journalists explored how the city is combining smart development, urban renewal, and cultural preservation.

For Sosiveta Korobiau, a multimedia journalist from The Fiji Sun, Chongqing's urban development was one of the most striking aspects of the visit. At Wanhua GreenHeart in Chongqing Liangjiang New Area, a park-and-commercial complex that combines natural landscapes, cultural spaces and consumer activities, he focused on how the city manages growth while improving residents' living environment.

Members of the media delegation visit Wanhua GreenHeart Park in Chongqing Liangjiang New Area, on September 18, 2026. (Photo/Xinhua)

"One of the areas that I focus on is urban-rural development. The building of a smarter city is something that has opened my eyes," Korobiau said.

"Even though it's densely populated, the government has initiatives to build parks and recreation activities," he said, adding that such experiences could offer lessons for other Pacific island countries.

Members of the media delegation visit Wanhua GreenHeart Park in Chongqing Liangjiang New Area, on September 18, 2026. (Photo/Xinhua)

For Redhor Markie Mendoza, senior reporter from The Manila Times, Chongqing showed a side beyond its popular online image.

Before visiting, he said he mainly associated the city with its bridges and mountain landscape. But after exploring areas such as Ziwei Road Commercial Street, he discovered how old urban spaces were being transformed into new places for business and daily life.

Members of the media delegation visit Ziwei Road Commercial Street in Chongqing on September 18, 2026. (Photo/Xinhua)

"Now I've seen the real Chongqing, the park, the commercial district, and this air-raid shelter turned restaurant. It's quite different from what I normally see on social media," Mendoza said.

Members of the media delegation visit Ziwei Road Commercial Street in Chongqing on September 18, 2026. (Photo/Xinhua)

Ziwei Road Commercial Street was previously an old auto repair and spare parts area. Through urban renewal, it has been transformed into a mixed-use neighborhood combining restaurants, cultural and creative businesses, vintage stores and art spaces, with more than 150 shops and improved international services such as bilingual facilities and foreign card payment options.

For Ahmed Irfan Bin Che Mohd Ruzaidi, a journalist from Malaysia's BERNAMA, Chongqing's appeal lies in the way modernization coexists with local identity.

Visiting Underground City · Air-raid Shelter Old Hotpot, a restaurant transformed from a former military air-raid shelter complex, he noticed how the city preserved historical spaces while creating new cultural experiences. The 520-meter-long underground site was renovated into a dining and tourism destination, with a 4,500-square-meter operating area that can accommodate more than 1,300 diners.

"When you are visiting a place, then you can see all the advanced technologies, the buildings, modern buildings, but you still can see the origin of Chongqing," Ruzaidi said.

He said he hoped to share Chongqing's transformation with audiences in Malaysia.

"The best thing that can be shared to Malaysians is how fast Chongqing transformed from maybe an ancient or small city to a big developed city," he said.