International tourists are pouring into southwest China's Chongqing to shoot motorbiking videos, a growing social media craze that has turned the country's neon-lit "cyberpunk" mountain city into a magnet for visitors chasing the perfect shot from the back of a gleaming superbike.
As night falls, tourists line up along the city's riverside Nanbin Road to rent heavy superbikes, team up with local riders and professional videographers, and star in personalized videos cruising past the iconic locations which illuminate Chongqing's night skyline.
"We arrived just earlier this morning. This is the first thing we are doing. We haven't eaten; we haven't gone out for a drink. The first thing on our list is to do the motorbike trend," said Shirley Bekker, a British tourist.
"It's my first time in China, so I thought I want to do everything I can. And it just looks like a great activity. So, yeah, I just did it," said German tourist Fynn Luhr.
Before the engine roars, each tourist receives a quick safety briefing from their designated rider, who also demonstrates how to strike the perfect pose while the bike is in motion, leaving language barriers as the least of their worries once the ride begins.
"I honestly feel exhilarated. I was scared to do it, but I'm really glad I did. And I'm really excited to see how it turns out," said Cailie Clark-West, a Canadian tourist
"It was really nice. It's such an experience. I just saw it on Instagram. Now I think I enjoyed it a lot, all the process," said Paula Paz, a tourist from Spain.
The popular trend taps into the history of Chongqing's motorbiking roots, with the metropolis of roughly roughly 32 million people having been a major center for China's two-wheeler production for decades.
What began last year as local riders filming each other for fun has since exploded into a full-blown phenomenon, fueled by a spike in tourism to the mountain city. The growing online reach of these videos shoots has helped cement Chongqing's new identity as the country's "biker capital."
Ji Xiaoyu, a Chongqing native, was among the first local riders to turn the craze into a business, reaching out to international enthusiasts through social media and building it into a thriving operation alongside a handful of fellow bikers
"There are currently three riders on our team. From last September till now, we've served no fewer than 700 or 800 tourists, probably close to 1,000, actually," Ji said.
Ji said safety remains the top priority, with traffic police deployed to monitor the streets every night.
"We wait for the traffic light, and only proceed when the road behind us is clear of traffic. During the shooting process, there is very little traffic following us. The videos are all sped up for effect. Our actual riding speed is only around 20 to 30 kilometers per hour," he said.
Luhr said his rider walked him through everything he needed to know before hitting the road.
"I think it was pretty safe. If I had some questions, I could ask him. We use the translator if I had some deeper questions. The staff was amazing, and they made me feel secure all the way," he said.
As Chongqing welcomes more international travelers, local riders like Ji say they will keep revving up their services, hoping more visitors can see the city from a different perspective, one filled with dazzling lights, speed, and excitement.
Int'l tourists race to Chongqing as viral cyberpunk motorbike trend revs up
