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Imagine living in a building so expansive, it has everything you need in one place so you never need to go outside.
Whether that sounds like a dream or a total nightmare to you, it is a reality for at least 20,000 people in China.
In Qianjiang Century City, Hangzhou’s central business district, there’s a colossal apartment complex called the Regent International that stands at an impressive 206 metres tall and covers more than 260,000 square metres of space.
Initially designed as a hotel, this mammoth S-shaped structure has been converted into a high-end residential apartment complex that can house up to 30,000 people, although its current inhabitants stand at around the 20,000 mark.
This remarkable congregation of locals crammed under one roof makes it one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
What makes it so captivating to people all over the internet is the fact that it is more than a place people call home.
Also located across its 36 to 39 floors, depending on what side of it you’re on, are a variety of amenities and businesses – just like any normal town would have – which means residents never have to step outside. Unless they need fresh air. However, good clean air is a rarity in China, so staying inside is probably better for the lungs.
Available to the small population of residents is a giant food court, as well as swimming pools, barber shops, nail salons, medium-sized supermarkets, and internet cafes. With all that on your doorstep, it is quite likely that some folks don’t ever leave.
@fatheristheone The Regent International apartment in Hangzhou, China is famous for having a lot of inhabitants comparable to a small town, around 20,000 #unreal #😎 #followme #love #free #forever #friends #earth #biggest#apartments#hangzhou #china ♬ original sound – father is the one
The building has gained a lot of attention on social media, where netizens are astonished at its impressive size and unique way of living.
@yasminvroon We went in the famous building with “30 000 people resident” to see if there are really that many people!(wait till the end 👀) #hangzhou #china #chinese #chinalife #foreignersinchina #regentinternational #中国 ♬ original sound – official_yasmin
The building was inaugurated in 2013 and designed by Alicia Loo, the chief designer of the world’s second seven-star hotel, the Singapore Sands Hotel. Graduates, young professionals, such as influencers and those in charge of small businesses, are said to be popular tenants.
According to an article by the Chinese news agency Sina, smaller apartments without windows usually rent for around 1,500 RMB (R3,700) per month, Oddity Central report. It’s added that larger units with balconies can be rented for up to 4,000 RMB (over R10,000) per month or more.
That’s still not bad at all, even for a Saffa.
Even though some are dumbfounded at the amount of people squashed into one space, the innovative approach to urban living – which has quite literally created a self-contained ecosystem – has garnered plenty of praise.
Having seamlessly blended residential, commercial, and recreational spaces, it’s even been described as “the most sustainable living building on earth” by some.