Where Traffic Flows Above and Life Unfolds Below: Chongqing Renews Its Under-Bridge Spaces

Chongqing - Between two flyovers, flowers stand against a clear blue sky. This unexpected view from an overpass on Nanbin Road in Chongqing’s Nan’an District recently went viral on Xiaohongshu, also known as rednote, earning 38,000 likes and drawing crowds eager to recreate the shot.

Beneath Chongqing’s river-crossing bridges and busy flyovers, dim lighting and awkward routes have long left spaces largely empty of pedestrians. Now, the “City of Bridges” is transforming more of these overlooked corners into public spaces, giving residents new reasons to venture beneath the traffic.

Beautification and lighting revive under-bridge spaces

As cities expand and populations grow, built-up areas face mounting pressure on available space. Upgrading under-bridge zones unlocks idle land and fills gaps in local public services.

The Douzibei Viaduct on Jiucai Road in Yuzhong District is a four-lane elevated structure. Its undercroft was once a neglected sanitation hotspot overgrown with weeds and litter. In 2025, the Yuzhong District Urban Administration Bureau launched a safety remediation project here. 

The former dumping ground was converted into a 750-square-metre public activity area with a plastic surfacing, complete with a 270-metre circular footpath and basketball courts. It is now a popular spot for nearby residents to exercise and relax.

Beneath the spiral Rongqiao Bridge on Shuangfengshan Branch Road in Nan’an District, a small-scale renewal project has tackled an underused marginal plot while easing local parking shortages. 

Covering 11,541 square metres, the site hosts a three-storey multi-storey car park with 183 parking spaces, including charging piles for new-energy vehicles. New pedestrian walkways separate foot traffic from vehicles to improve safety.

Market-based operation elevates space quality

The viral Xiaohongshu photo was taken at Under Joy Urban Camp, a revitalised under-bridge venue under the Nanbin Road overpass. 

Distinct from many similar projects, this site is run by professional commercial operators. Covering 3,600 square metres, it features lush greenery, wooden decks and riverside seating, and hosts dining, coffee service, live performances and corporate team-building activities. Thanks to its prime location near the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers, it draws steady crowds even on workdays.

Outdoor yoga, music festivals and corporate retreats now draw visitors to this once-vacant space beneath a bridge. Under a 10-year contract signed with Nan’an District in 2023, Chongqing Xiangxiang Culture and Tourism Co., Ltd. invested 4.5 million yuan (about 670,000 U.S. dollars) to create the semi-outdoor leisure venue. A dedicated team organizes events and promotes them online, attracting young locals and visitors from other cities.

The company has completed four urban renewal projects in Nan’an District since 2023. Peng Tianlie, a company representative, sees market-led operation as a growing trend: bringing businesses into these overlooked spaces can reduce pressure on public budgets, improve services and sustain their upkeep over the long term.

Other commercially operated under-bridge venues include the Yurenwan N37 Bridge Corner Night Camp under the Beibin Road overpass.

Once an unregulated parking lot, the site entered a safety and usage agreement between Liangjiang New Area Urban Administration Bureau and Chongqing Panxi Real Estate Co., Ltd. in 2023. The operator now runs one standard basketball court, three tennis courts, a five-a-side football pitch, running tracks and cycling lanes, forming an integrated recreation and sports hub.

Beneath the bridges, cities find new life

Moving away from large-scale demolition and construction, urban development across China has entered an era of refined governance focused on urban renewal. 

The 2025 Central Urban Work Conference pointed out that China’s urbanisation has shifted from rapid expansion to steady development, with priorities moving from large-scale new construction to upgrading existing urban stock. 

In May 2026, the State Council issued the 15th Five-Year Plan for Urban Renewal, setting targets for renovating old residential compounds, building sports venues and upgrading urban green spaces. The plan encourages private enterprises to participate in the development and operation of urban infrastructure.

For major Yangtze River cities including Chongqing, Wuhan and Shanghai, the renovation of under-bridge spaces offers a small but powerful entry point for urban renewal and vitality stimulation: the sites range from several hundred to several thousand square metres in area, with an investment of around 10 million yuan.

In Wuhan, Wuhan Chengtou Tietou Investment Co., Ltd. developed Wuyin PARK under the Wuhan Second Yangtze River Bridge on the Wuchang bank. The 4,000-square-metre undercroft has become a mixed leisure space for children’s play and family gatherings. 

In Nanjing, a partnership with a property developer turned the viaduct underpass on Xianlinhu Road in Qixia District into the city’s first bridge-themed sports park, which opened to the public last National Day holiday. 

In Shanghai, the Central Ring Sports Park under the Central Ring Viaduct in Putuo District makes creative use of irregular under-bridge land for archery, BMX and pet training activities.

Beneath Chongqing’s bridges lie more than 1.7 million square metres of space, offering room for public life below the traffic. The city has created 186 demonstration public spaces under bridges, including 19 completed in central urban areas this year. 

To expand sports facilities in these spaces, the Chongqing Municipal Bureau of Sports and other authorities have issued planning guidelines for central districts, with a target of building 162 under-bridge sports venues during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.