Inside world's narrowest city home to 450,000 people who can shake hands across street – but ‘sit on edge of disaster'

Scottish Sun

02-06-2025

Homes, shops and public buildings are all stacked on top of each other in this unique city
TIGHT MOVE Inside world's narrowest city home to 450,000 people who can shake hands across street – but 'sit on edge of disaster'
THE WORLD'S narrowest city has alleyways just big enough for two people to squeeze past each other, with residents having to use bikes as the roads are too small for cars.
Wedged between soaring cliff faces, Yanjin, which is located in China's Yunnan province, is just 100 feet wide in many places.
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Yanjin is the "worlds narrowest city"
Credit: Alamy
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Houses are on stilts to protect against flooding
Credit: Alamy
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In many places, the city is no more than 100 feet wide
Credit: Alamy
The eight-mile-long city, which is divided by the Nanxi River is home to around 400,000 residents.
As it is wedged between the cliffs and the river, inhabitants of the unique location have had to build upwards instead of outwards.
This means that homes, shops and schools are all stacked on top of each other.
In some areas, streets are so thin that people on opposite sides of the roads can hold hands.
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Thin bridges connect the parts of the city on both sides of the river, with houses clinging to the edge of cliff faces.
As the streets are too narrow for cars, city dwellers have to use bikes or travel on foot.
And the city's proximity to the river means that buildings have had to be built on tall pillars, to protect against flooding.
In the rainy season, the banks of the river can swell dangerously, whilst the steep cliffs are prone to landslides, which can cause damage to the city below.
Although you likely have not heard of this unusual city, it has an interesting history.
Yanjin was known as the "Gateway to Sichuan and Yunnan" in ancient times and once had a key stronghold on the ancient Southern Silk Road.
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Many residents in the ancient city now rely on fishing and agriculture to make a living, whilst many own small businesses.
As the city is too small to farm livestock in, many city folk own plots of land in the nearby area.
The city is in a very remote part of China, making it extremely tricky to get to.
The Chongqing-Kunming runs close to the city, so it is fairly convenient to access Yanjin by car.
However, if you don't have access to a car, you will have to get a bullet train to Kunming, the provincial capital, from Shanghai, Beijing, or Hong Kong, and then take a six hour bus to Kunming.
Yanjin is home to a number of local festivals such as the Lantern Festival and Dragon Boat Festival, during which the tiny streets are lit up and flooded with excited revellers.
"It's truly mind-blowing to see how Yanjin has adapted to its natural environment, with its residents making the most of every inch of space available," said Drew Binsky, a YouTuber who has visited all 195 countries.
"The towering mountains in every direction make it feel as though the city is trapped in a stunning, yet challenging, landscape.
"In all of my travels, I've never seen anything like this!"