Surrounded by Nanxi River and huge mountains, is the narrowest city in the world: Yanjin, in China. With more than 400,000 inhabitants divided into two strips, this region has had to adapt due to its narrow dimensions, which are between 30 to 300 meters wide.
Its location between Yunnan and Sichuan, Regions of great historical and economic importance Yanjin a crucial role in the salt trade, contributing to its growth and density. However, this particular geographical configuration has also forced its inhabitants to innovate in construction and social organization, making it a fascinating case study for urban planners and tourists alike.
Yanjin's buildings are secured by large concrete pillars. Photo: Capture Guizhou Li Jun/YouTube
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Where is the narrowest city in the world?
Yanjin is located in southwest China, in Yunnan Province. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it lies in a gorge bounded by the Nanxi River and surrounded by mountains that limit its further horizontal expansion. Nevertheless, visitors and residents are offered an impressive view that defies urban conventions. Those who want to visit it will have to do so by car, as the drive takes five hours from Chongqing and six and a half hours from ChongqingKunming, the capital of the province.
However, Yanji also went through difficult times. At the beginning of the 20th century, one of the few bridges over the Nanxi River collapsed, claiming 400 lives. Later, in 2006, a magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck the region, leaving 22 dead, 106 injured and more than 6,000 damaged homes.
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These tragedies motivated us to strengthen the foundations of the homes, which added new floors every year due to demand and population growth.
What are the houses like in Yanji City?
Space limitations in Yanjin have led to ingenious solutions. The houses, many of which are built on stilts, sit on narrow strips of land, maximizing the use of vertical space. This change allowed it to currently have a population of 400,000 inhabitants and reduce the risk of floods or landslides.
Nevertheless, in statements to the media Infobae, the Spanish architect Iván Samaniego pointed out that the use of reinforced concrete frames and the implementation of the foundations or pillars on the rocks of the river show that “the regulations for these constructions and the measures of security exist practically not.”
Despite its large population, Yanjin has few bridges. Photo: Idealist
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He also explained that although the site is capable of supporting this type of weight, the area is not suitable for these structures due to the risk of rain and flooding.