Journeymarvel - Yanjin is a city on the banks of the Nancy River in the mountains of Yunnan Province, China. The city is considered the narrowest city in the world and has been around for hundreds of years. Initially, this location served as a former center for bronze, salt, and tea trade. Now it has transformed into a densely populated city. At least since the Qin Dynasty (221–206 BCE), the Yanjin city area has been home to the Bo people. The Bo people are ancient people who have become extinct in the provinces of Yunnan and Sichuan in Southern China. They are one of the various ethnic groups that have disappeared from Southern China.
The extremely narrow size of Yanjin is also associated with historical defense considerations. In times of war, smaller city structures allowed for more effective defense against enemy attacks. Additionally, the compact city structure also facilitated easier interaction among the inhabitants, maintaining a close-knit communal life.
Over time, Yanjin grew and developed into the city it is today. Now, Yanjin is one of the main tourist destinations in China. To get here, tourists have to traverse hilly terrain using four-wheeled or two-wheeled vehicles. Looking from above, it’s hard to believe there is a city like this with so many people. No one could imagine that the narrow spaces between these valleys house a city with a population of over 453,000 people. That’s what makes the city of Yanjin very unique.
The city has varying widths; the narrowest part of the city is 30 meters wide, while the widest part is 300 meters wide. Most of the city is along the river, but there aren’t many bridges here. One won’t find toilets or unsightly places along the riverbanks; instead, there are tall buildings resembling those in major city centers. Many multi-story buildings stand between the hills, the river, and several main roads as access for residents. As a narrow and densely populated city, vacant land is decreasing, and if there is any, it’s on the hill slopes, making it impossible to build settlements.
Videos about this narrow city have circulated widely on the internet. People who see it wonder why anyone would want to settle in such an incredibly narrow city.?
From an aerial view, the city does indeed look very narrow. But if we look deeper, Yanjin is not much different from other cities. Here, there are markets, shops, roads traversed by several cars and motorcycles, and other entertainment venues. Clearly, the residents here are accustomed to the limitations of the city. Daily life in Yanjin is still influenced by ancient traditions and culture. The people here hold onto traditional values, and cultural events such as festivals and ceremonies are still held regularly. Traditional crafts such as bamboo weaving and calligraphy are also highly valued and preserved by the locals.
As a city located right along the river channel, Yanjin is vulnerable to flood threats caused by river overflow. As a precaution, most buildings and apartments located right on the riverbanks are built on concrete stilts, protecting them from floods if the water level rises.
Despite the extreme narrowness, Yanjin has uniqueness that other places don’t possess. Unfortunately, despite its amazing features, the infrastructure of Yanjin is reported to hinder its economic development. Surrounded by mountains on all sides, and with only one main road passing through the city, this settlement is considered challenging to access by many.
