Chongqing life simulator

Chongqing sits on steep hills at the meeting point of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers in Southwest China. Residents climb stone staircases, ride hillside escalators, and cross skybridges that link upper high-rise floors to street level. In the evenings, people gather at outdoor hotpot stalls, night markets, and neighborhood teahouses.

You can search for any real landmark on the 3D map and walk there. Go to Jiefangbei in the center of Yuzhong District to meet friends at the pedestrian plaza. Walk down toward the Jialing River to see the outside of Hongyadong, an 11-story cliffside complex. At the tip of the peninsula, visit Chaotianmen Square where the Yangtze and Jialing rivers meet.

Follow the river west to find Liziba Station, where the Line 2 monorail passes through an apartment building. For a quieter afternoon, plan an outing with friends to Eling Park or the Three Gorges Museum. You can also search for Ciqikou Ancient Town in Shapingba to walk its flagstone alleys and talk with locals.

Say you start as a 26-year-old automotive engineer living in Nan'an District. In the morning, you search for a noodle shop near your home to get a bowl of xiaomian before work. You walk to the Yangtze River Cableway station and head into Yuzhong District. At lunch, a coworker texts you to meet at Bayi Road Food Street.

In the evening, a birthday drinks happening appears on the map at Jiujie, a nightlife area with bars and barbecue. You go there, talk with new people in your own words, and make a friend. The day ends with a recap of your moments, and the people you met remember your chats.

The 3D map shows weather that matches the city. Chongqing has long, hot summers, and people call it one of China's Three Furnaces. During the summer heat, you can plan evening outings along Nanbin Road by the river.

Winters are mild without snow, but thick river fog and gray skies cover the hills. Spring and autumn bring high humidity and frequent night rain. On damp days, you can invite friends to the historic Jiaotong Teahouse in Huangjueping.

The local currency is the Chinese yuan, which locals call kuai in daily conversation. People use WeChat Pay and Alipay QR codes for almost everything, from metro rides to street noodles. Vendors still accept cash as a backup, while major hotels and upscale malls take bank cards.

In real life, living costs vary across the mountain city. Riverfront towers in central Jiefangbei and the Jiangbeizui financial district are the most expensive. Commercial hubs like Guanyinqiao and Daping, along with northern neighborhoods in Yubei, have mid-range housing costs. University areas in Shapingba and outer districts like Jiulongpo, Dadukou, and Banan are cheaper.

LifeSim does not charge monthly rent or pay a job salary. You do not pay bills or mortgages. Instead, your cash changes when you do activities and chat with people around the city.

Lin, 20, starts a life as a student near the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute in Jiulongpo District. Lin sets two life goals: paint every day and make five close friends in Huangjueping. In week one, Lin visits the Jiaotong Teahouse every morning and talks with the regulars.

A neighbor remembers Lin's interest in art and starts a group text with two other students. They plan an outing to Guanyinqiao to walk the plazas and eat hotpot together. By the end of the month, Lin has a full calendar of plans and friends who text on their own.