Chongqing, a major Chinese city with a population of about 23 million, has become a hotspot for motorcycling and biker culture unlike many other Chinese cities that restrict motorbikes [1, 2, 3, 4]. Known for its open embrace of petrol-powered motorcycles amidst a national trend toward electric scooters, Chongqing offers a biker-friendly environment that draws both locals and tourists [1, 2, 3, 4].

The city’s cyberpunk-style streets have become popular backdrops for personalized high-octane motorbiking videos. Tourists like Liu Changqing fly in from cities such as Shanghai specifically to shoot these videos, often accompanied by makeup artists and video crews. Liu said, “I flew from Shanghai to Chongqing this morning, and the first priority is this shoot. They even have make-up artists to help you.” [1, 5, 4]

Social media content featuring Chongqing’s motorbike scene has accumulated 1.3 billion views on Douyin, China’s TikTok, since 2025 [1, 2, 3, 4]. The popularity of these videos has boosted tourism and interest in motorbiking within Chongqing and beyond.

Local motorbike instructor Zhang Yuanming noted a local saying: “If you put a camera at an intersection in Chongqing, every 30 seconds you’ll see a motorcycle pass by.” He added that many tourists who come to shoot videos may end up learning to ride and buying a bike [1].

Chongqing has a long history in motorcycle manufacturing, dating back to 1979 when state-owned military equipment manufacturer Jialing began producing civilian motorcycles. Today, the city accounts for more than one-third of China’s total motorbike production [1, 2, 3, 4].

Since March 2026, local interest in motorbiking among students has surged, partly due to the success of local brand ZXMoto in international racing [1, 2, 3, 4]. ZXMoto offers organized night rides with video shoots that cost about 200 yuan each, catering to enthusiasts and tourists alike [4].

Multiple reports as of early August 2026 described tourists flocking to Chongqing for night rides and motorbike video shoots, affirming the city’s rising profile as China’s biker capital [5, 4].