The city of Chongqing is essentially built into a mountain. Due to its terrain the city needed manpower to transport its goods from place to place, since vehicles couldn’t tackle the hills. The bang bang men, named after the bamboo sticks placed along their shoulders used to carry up to 50kg on each side, were once 500,000 strong. Today there are less than 2000 of them.
In viral Chongqing, a hidden story emerges: the bang bang men, once 500,000 strong, now fewer than 2,000. These human porters carry up to 50kg on bamboo sticks through steep hills, a dying trade in a modern city. Mike Okay explores this fading legacy, revealing the human cost behind a viral destination.
The city of Chongqing is essentially built into a mountain. Due to its terrain the city needed manpower to transport its goods from place to place, since vehicles couldn’t tackle the hills. The bang bang men, named after the bamboo sticks placed along their shoulders used to carry up to 50kg on each...
In viral Chongqing, a hidden story emerges: the bang bang men, once 500,000 strong, now fewer than 2,000. These human porters carry up to 50kg on bamboo sticks through steep hills, a dying trade in a modern city. Mike Okay explores this fading legacy, revealing the human cost behind a viral destination.
Attractions in this video: Raffles City
