When people think of dystopian life, they imagine crowded spaces and limited freedom. In China, one massive apartment complex seems to embody that vision.
The Regent International in Qianjiang Century City, Hangzhou, is a 675-foot-tall building completed in 2013. Designed by Alicia Loo, chief designer of Singapore’s Sands Hotel, it holds an estimated 20,000 residents and is shaped like an “S,” with 36 to 39 floors.
Often called a “dystopian apartment,” the building is essentially a self-contained city. It houses restaurants, pools, grocery stores, internet cafés, nail salons, and more—allowing residents to live almost entirely indoors. Units are affordable, ranging from 1,500 RMB (around $200) to 4,000 RMB (under $600) per month, attracting students, young professionals, and influencers seeking convenience.
