Life Inside the 20,000-Person Mega Apartment City

Imagine entering a building so enormous it feels like its own city. That’s the reality for more than 20,000 people who live in a single S-shaped skyscraper in Hangzhou, China. With over 5,000 apartments, this colossal structure has fascinated the world, prompting debates about whether it represents a triumph of urban innovation or a glimpse of a dystopian future.

For its residents, though, life here is perfectly ordinary. Almost everything they need is within the building, eliminating the need to step outside for daily necessities.

The skyscraper was originally intended to be a six-star hotel but was later transformed into a massive residential complex in Hangzhou’s central business district.

Apartments range from compact studios to spacious multi-room units, catering to students, young professionals, and graduates who want affordable housing in a desirable area.

Smaller, windowless rooms rent for around 1,500 RMB (about $210) per month, while larger apartments with balconies can cost up to 4,000 RMB ($570).

What makes the building remarkable is its self-contained lifestyle. Inside are grocery stores, beauty salons, indoor pools, internet cafés, and food courts—all part of a vertical neighborhood. Though amenities differ by section, the concept remains the same: everything exists under one roof.

This skyscraper reflects a possible future of urban living—vertical communities replacing sprawling suburbs. Yet, it also raises questions about social connection, privacy, and whether such vast structures can ever truly feel like home. In Hangzhou, this experiment in modern living continues to redefine what “city life” means.