Chongqing — For many international travelers, Chongqing is known as China's "8D Magic City"—where trains pass through buildings, layered roads climb steep hillsides, and dramatic city views often evoke scenes from Spirited Away. But beyond these viral images lies another story: how does a megacity of more than 32 million people transform its unique terrain into a better place to live?

Part of the answer lies in Guanyinqiao Commercial District, one of Chongqing's busiest urban centers, where the city's distinctive topography is being used to create more connected and livable neighborhoods.

Rather than treating the mountainous landscape as a challenge, planners have embraced Chongqing's natural elevation to create multi-level streets, pedestrian spaces and residential communities that maximize land use while improving comfort and accessibility.

One example is Eternal Land, a mixed-use development jointly built by China Resources Land and Hongkong Land. This month, its first fourth-generation residential community, Qianchongjin, is scheduled for official delivery.

According to the project's design team, the site's elevation differences of up to 25 meters allow commercial areas and pedestrian spaces to remain at lower levels, while residential areas are elevated to provide greater privacy and a quieter living environment. The result is a community where urban vitality and residential comfort coexist.

As MIXC Central continues to take shape nearby, Guanyinqiao is further integrating commerce, transportation and residential living. For many visitors, Chongqing's layered cityscape is a visual wonder. For its residents, it also demonstrates how thoughtful urban planning can create a more connected and livable city.