Robert C. Whitlock, Design Executive Director, KPF New York

Chongqing- How many tall buildings are there in Chongqing?  Why do humans like to climb high and look far?  What does Chongqing's new skyline look like? On August 4th, the documentary "Chongqing's Thriving," which records Chongqing's urban development and construction, unveiled these answers at the premiere.

The scene at the "Chongqing's Thriving" premiere, photo provided to iChongqing

"Chongqing's Thriving" took 245 days to shoot, visited 24 landmark buildings in Chongqing, and interviewed more than 50 people from Chongqing, Shanghai, and New York; the documentary lasts 43 minutes, which records the "height," the "breadth" and the "thickness" of Vanke Center to represent the construction process and the stories behind these dimensions.  The documentary reveals the details of the construction of the super project for the first time. It also reflects the great changes in Chongqing's urban appearance and economic development in the new era, as well as Chongqing people's expectation and pursuit of a better life to the future, and finally shows the city's spirit; of "keep on climbing up."  

Robert C. Whitlock, Design Executive Director, KPF New York, told the design philosophy, photo provided to iChongqing

At the premiere, there was no red carpet, no stars, no flashlights, everyone present is the "leading role" of this grand ceremony, including the Hualongqiao's (the region where Vanke Center is located) residents, the professors of Chongqing University, and the architects, the city planners, even the project partners. They are the witnesses, who are the actors and the creators of the future city in the documentary.  

Hualongqiao's residents took photos with the building across the river, photo provided to iChongqing

With a 458 meters height, the 100-story skyscraper will become a new landmark of Chongqing after completion and be among the TOP20 famous skyscrapers worldwide.  In fact, Chongqing no longer needs to use "highest" to prove the city's self-confidence.  Instead, the focus of the city starts from "height" and extends downwards to "thickness of the city" and "breadth of the life." Growing together with the city, these buildings are the spokespersons and the city's spiritual and cultural symbols.

Blueprint for Vanke Center, photo provided to iChongqing

A trailer for the documentary has been posted on Chongqing.