Pittsburgh and Chongqing, China (apartment, houses, universities)

[Bettafish]

I was born in a place 100 miles away from Chongqing, China and live in Pittsburgh temporarily. I am surprised these two cities are so similar in many ways. Since this is a PBG forum, I am introducing some facts about Chongqing:

(1) Chongqing is called "mountain city" in China. It is the most hilly major city in that country.

(2) Chongqing has two major rivers: Yangtze River and Jialing River, and the downtown is located on the peninsula.

(3) Chongqing is probably the cloudiest major city in the world. The annual sunshine time is only about 1000 hours, or 3 hours per day. It also has the nickname "fog city".

(4) Chongqing boomed during the second world war, when it became the war-time capital of China. People from difference provinces and different countries gathered in the city and the population reached 1 million for the first time.

(5) Chongqing is famous for heavy industry, especially steel and automobiles. It is considered a blue-collar city, though people there don't like it.

(6) In recent years, the "sprawl" has created many satellite cities, and suburbs are huge.

[Bettafish]

Some photos of Chongqing:

[BrianTH]

I've actually been to Chongqing--I agree it seems like a cousin of Pittsburgh.

[SolitaryThrush]

I'd love to go someday, and see more of China outside of just Beijing. How would you describe the satellite cities there versus the Pittsburgh suburbs? Or, how would you compare the suburbs there to Pittsburgh's suburbs?

Having visited other huge cities in Asia, I know satellite cities there are legitimate cities in their own right, with populations in six or seven figures, viable public transportation, and commercial centers.

Seongnam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Anyang, Gyeonggi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[youngabe]

That's so cool! Thanks for sharing!

[greg42]

Originally Posted by youngabe

That's so cool! Thanks for sharing!

Agreed, very interesting. The patterns do seem similar indeed.

[Bettafish]

Originally Posted by SolitaryThrush

I'd love to go someday, and see more of China outside of just Beijing. How would you describe the satellite cities there versus the Pittsburgh suburbs? Or, how would you compare the suburbs there to Pittsburgh's suburbs?

Having visited other huge cities in Asia, I know satellite cities there are legitimate cities in their own right, with populations in six or seven figures, viable public transportation, and commercial centers.

Seongnam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Anyang, Gyeonggi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I've not been in Pittsburgh long, so it is hard for me to compare.
Chongqing has a lot of "districts", and basically each one is centered in a valley. Some are bigger, with universities, shopping centers etc., others are smaller with some factories. In the suburbs of Pittsburgh, you can see smaller houses; but Chongqing is full of apartment buildings just like other cities in China.

Since most Chinese do not drive to work, public transportation is well developed. Chongqing literally has no bicycles, something unique in China.
Nowadays more families have cars, so traffic is terrible.

[escilade18]

Those are absolutely beautiful pictures (and I can see the similarities to Pittsburgh.) Chongqing has been added to my list of places that I want to visit , thanks for posting

[Tiger Beer]

I've been living on this side of the Pacific for a long time (on the Asia side).

Interestingly enough, Chongqing has always interested in me highly. I've found myself quite indifferent about Shanghai and Beijing. I mean, they are great international cities, but I wouldn't personally want to live in either one.

Chongqing has always been on my list of most interesting mainland China cities to visit, and possibly live in, if I were to do such a thing.

Which is interesting, because Pittsburgh is a very interesting American city to me, much more than otherwise more famous American cities as well.

Anyways, thanks for the photos of Chongqing, and great to see such a thread!

[Bettafish]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

I've been living on this side of the Pacific for a long time (on the Asia side).

Interestingly enough, Chongqing has always interested in me highly. I've found myself quite indifferent about Shanghai and Beijing. I mean, they are great international cities, but I wouldn't personally want to live in either one.

Chongqing has always been on my list of most interesting mainland China cities to visit, and possibly live in, if I were to do such a thing.

Which is interesting, because Pittsburgh is a very interesting American city to me, much more than otherwise more famous American cities as well.

Anyways, thanks for the photos of Chongqing, and great to see such a thread!

You guys are welcome
I thought most outsiders never heard of Chongqing.

For gentlemen only: Chongqing is great for another reason: seriously, Chinese people believe it produces the most beautiful women. lol. There is a famous saying: "In Beijing, you realize you are nobody. In Chongqing, you realize you marry too early." Many actresses and actors in China are from that area.

However, women there are also known as butch ladies, and their husband has to cook at home etc.
Scientifically speaking, some ancestors of Chongqing people are related to Tibetans as well as some Burmese.