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Yanjin, China: Exploring the World's Narrowest City

Entering The World's Narrowest City

Destination:ChinaProvince:YunnanCity:Yanjin
Entering The World's Narrowest City
Drew Binsky26 min

China travel video

Entering The World's Narrowest City. This China travel video was filmed by Drew Binsky. Watch the full journey and explore the filming details and destinations on this page.

Welcome to Yanjin, China - the narrowest city in the world! This place is truly mind-blowing to see how Yanjin has adapted to its natural environment, with its residents making the most of every inch of space available. The towering mountains in every direction make it feel as though the city is trapped in a stunning, yet challenging, landscape. In all of my travels, I've never seen anything like this!

Also - this is my first time visiting rural China, and I have to admit, it’s been a refreshing change from the hustle and bustle of massive cities like Beijing or Shanghai. The slower pace, tight-knit community, and the way life carries on here, despite the obvious limitations, have been truly eye-opening.

Mainland China is full of surprises, and Yanjin is just one of the many hidden gems that I've discovered on this 18 day trip. Stay tuned for the next five videos in my China series, where I’ll be uncovering even more fascinating and lesser-known places across this incredible country!

--- Drew Binsky
October 19, 2024, Autumn in China

Travel Guides & Tips in this video

Explore Yanjin, China, the world's narrowest city, with Drew Binsky Located between towering mountains, this unique city clings to a river, presenting a striking yet challenging landscape. Discover the daily lives of its 100,000 residents, their resilience against floods and earthquakes, and their surprising happiness despite the city's unusual layout. From busy markets to a heart-warming encounter with locals sharing tea and stories, this video offers a memorable glimpse into a lesser-known place of rural China.

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Entering The World's Narrowest City

Yanjin between mountains and river

Drew Binsky visits Yanjin, a city in China known for its narrow shape. Steep mountains and a river leave little room for development, so many of the high-rise buildings stand in a single row along the water. The source describes the river as polluted and notes that floods and earthquakes are risks for the city. About 100,000 people live there despite the challenging setting. The video follows Drew as he looks at how the city fits into the valley and talks with residents about living in such an unusual place.

He begins at the morning market, where fresh produce and live animals are on display. Drew speaks with local people about their routines and perspectives on the city. The market gives a view of everyday shopping and food in Yanjin. He then walks along the main streets, seeing traditional and modern shops together. The buildings and streets show the compact layout, while the residents he meets talk about their lives and appear resilient in the face of the location’s risks. Their reactions also give him a sense of how people adapt to the city’s vertical arrangement.

Streets, bridge and surrounding mountains

Drew crosses a suspension bridge for views of Yanjin’s architecture, the river and the mountains around the city. Local residents greet him and share stories as he walks. The route later becomes more adventurous when he hikes along a steep cliff path. The path provides a closer look at the surrounding landscape, and he meets more people along the way. Their conversations touch on local history and traditions as well as daily life in the area.

The visit also includes time sharing tea and meals with residents, including a meal with a local family. Their hospitality gives Drew a chance to hear more about the community and its routines. The final meal takes place in a nearby village, where the group shares food together. The video closes with Drew reflecting on the way Yanjin combines traditional and modern life in a narrow mountain setting. He is impressed by the city and the people who live there, and describes a close-knit community that seems content despite the difficult landscape.

FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)

Q: Why is Yanjin known as a narrow city?
A: Steep mountains and a river constrain the city, so its high-rise buildings line up in a narrow strip.
Q: How many people live in Yanjin?
A: The source says about 100,000 people live in Yanjin despite the flood and earthquake risks mentioned in the video.
Q: What did Drew see at the morning market?
A: He saw fresh produce and live animals and spoke with local residents about their daily lives.

Previous travel video:

Yanjin, China: Exploring the World's Narrowest City

Welcome to Yanjin, China - the narrowest city in the world! This place is AWESOME! More than 100,000 people call this unique city home, living in high-rise buildings along a narrow strip of land between steep mountains and the polluted brown River. It’s truly mind-blowing to see how Yanjin has...

China's Narrowest City: Yanjin's Unique Mountainside Life

Explore Yanjin, China, the world's narrowest city, where over 100,000 people reside in high-rise buildings nestled between towering mountains and a river. Witness the unique adaptation of this community to its challenging landscape, a refreshing contrast to bustling metropolises like Beijing and Shanghai. Discover the slower pace, tight-knit community, and resilience of Yanjin's residents. This is just one hidden gem from Drew Binsky's 18-day Chinese adventure, promising more fascinating destinations in his upcoming videos.