Deemed a “Dystopian Apartment,” a building in China has recently gone viral on TikTok. Incredibly, it has the ability to host up to 30,000 residents.
The video was posted by @fatheristheone using a drone and caught people’s attention for more than just the impressive interior and unique design.
People were also astonished after seeing footage that truly captivates the enormity of the building.
Many people have read at least one novel focusing on a Dystopian society. Or at least understand that it describes a society that lives in fear or has been dehumanized.
Most works have been fiction, although some might argue they’re a possible warning about the future.
Either way, China currently has an apartment building that can house up to 30,000 residents at one time. Furthermore, containing everything residents could possibly need.
Features of the Dystopian Apartment
The “dystopian” apartment, called the Regent International, is located in Qianjiang Century City, more specifically, in Hangzhou’s central business district.
The building was actually designed by Alicia Loo, chief designer of a 7-star hotel called the Singapore Sands Hotel, and was inaugurated in 2013.
Impressively, the building is 675 feet tall and is currently home to around 20,000 residents. It is an S-shape and has 36, or 39, floors depending upon which side of the building you are.
Unsurprisingly, it’s one of the most densely populated areas in the world, thanks to the numerous residents coexisting under one giant roof.
Within the more than 30 floors of the Regent International, there are a number of amenities. Some include restaurants, swimming pools, and nail salons.
The building also contains its own grocery stores and internet cafes. Essentially, anything one might find “in town” can be found indoors the “dystopian apartment”.
As a result, many residents may never step foot outside again. Posing the question, will they also never get any fresh air or feel the sunlight on their skin? First, the residents aren’t forced to stay indoors, nor are they forced to live in the “dystopian apartment.”
In contrast, most residents are young professionals and influencers or college students. Both of them greatly benefit from the cost-effectiveness and convenience of living in a place such as an S-shaped building.
Advantageous Living
Living there seems to be incredibly convenient for residents as they have everything they could possibly need under one roof.
Convenience isn’t the only advantage. Its affordability is another great benefit to living at Regent International.
Units vary in size and cost but range from 1,500 RMB, which is equivalent to around $200.00 per month, to 4,000 RMB, which is just under $600.00 per month.
While some are apprehensive, calling it a “dystopian apartment,” others have praised the innovation behind the building. It’s even been called “the most sustainable living building on earth.”
Another interesting advantage comes to light in the midst of a housing crisis that is seemingly sweeping the U.S. The “dystopian apartment” could serve as a model for how the U.S. can possibly create more living spaces for people without taking up copious amounts of land.
Interestingly, one state has already developed something like the hotel turned apartment city. Whittier, a city in Alaska, has a 14-floor building in which all 272 residents live. It, like the building in China, has everything one would find “in town.” This includes a church, school, post office, and police station.
Possible Downsides
Like everything in life, this, too, has pros and cons. After all, the building has been referred to as “dystopian apartment” for a reason.
As previously mentioned, many people are wondering how so many people can live in one place. U.S. residents tend to prefer privacy. Space from their neighbors. Even a yard to hang out in or for their dogs to play.
A major drawback to a housing solution like this is that people will have very little space of their own, with little opportunity to be outdoors or get fresh air. Luckily, the problem of getting fresh air can be remedied by taking a stroll or renting one of the larger units in the Regent International, as some come with balconies, providing some relief from living in there.
I Was Always Invisible Until the Most Handsome Man at Work Noticed Me but the Truth Shattered My Heart — Story of the Day
He never even knew my name until one day, he did. Suddenly, the most charismatic man in the office was everywhere, flashing his perfect smile and asking me out. But why now? Something didn’t add up. And when I finally discovered the reason, it shattered me.
When no one notices you, at first, it hurts. You try to change the situation. Then, you accept it. And eventually, you even find an advantage in it.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
That day, I sat at my desk, watching as my male colleagues swarmed around our new coworker, Claire.
She was obviously attractive, so their reaction wasn’t surprising. But when Mark approached her, the others quickly backed off.
I let out a quiet chuckle as I watched. Mark was the most handsome and charismatic man in the office—I was convinced even other men wouldn’t mind if he took them to bed.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
He flirted with Claire, and she giggled at his jokes, twirling a strand of her blonde hair around her finger.
At that moment, Anthony, my boss, approached me. “Sara, do you remember our new project?” he asked, glancing at the laptop screen in front of me.
“Yes, of course. I’m leading it,” I replied, adjusting my glasses.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“I’m counting on you,” Anthony said with a nod, his tone full of expectation.
I worked at an IT company, and we were launching a new dating app. Anthony had chosen me to lead the project because, no matter how unnoticeable I was, my work results were the best.
He had also offered me an opportunity to work abroad at one of our other branches, but I declined, even though the salary would have been much higher.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
During lunch, I noticed an irritated Mark walking up to Anthony. Curious about what had upset our golden boy this time, I decided to eavesdrop.
“Who did you assign the dating app to?” Mark asked, his voice laced with disbelief.
“Sara. Is there a problem?” Anthony replied, sounding amused.
“Sara? We don’t have anyone by that name,” Mark scoffed, and I felt my jaw tighten.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“She’s sitting right over there,” Anthony said, pointing at me. I continued pretending not to hear them, keeping my eyes fixed on my screen.
“I thought I’d be handling the dating app. This isn’t fair,” Mark protested, folding his arms across his chest.
“To my office. Now,” Anthony ordered.
I finished my lunch just in time to see Mark walking out of Anthony’s office, looking pleased with himself.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I had no idea what they had discussed, but no one had told me I was off the project, so I remained calm, though a tiny seed of doubt had been planted in my mind.
The next day, Mark approached me with his signature smile, hovering over my desk like a shadow. I gave him a questioning look.
“Sonia…” he began, leaning in slightly.
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“Sara,” I corrected him, not bothering to hide my irritation.
“Right. Sara.” He chuckled, as if amused by his own mistake. “Want to grab lunch together?” he asked, his voice dripping with casual charm.
“I already ate,” I replied flatly, typing away at my keyboard.
“Then how about a drink after work?” he suggested, tilting his head.
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I turned to face him. “You didn’t even know my name a minute ago. I bet you didn’t even know I worked here,” I said, recalling his conversation with Anthony. “What’s this really about?”
“I just thought it’d be nice to hang out with a lovely colleague,” Mark said smoothly, flashing that infamous smirk that made other women melt.
I scoffed.
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“Oh, come on. It’ll be fun,” he insisted, his persistence almost amusing.
“I have a lot of work,” I said, turning back to my computer.
Mark lingered for a moment before sighing and walking away, but I could feel his eyes on me for a few seconds longer than necessary.
As usual, I stayed late at the office. But when I finally looked up from my screen, I was surprised to see Mark still there. Normally, by the time I finished, the office was empty.
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I stood up, gathered my things, and headed to the elevator. Mark did the same. He followed me, and the whole thing felt strange.
We stepped into the elevator, and it started moving. Then, suddenly, it stopped.
“What’s going on? Are we stuck?” I asked, pressing a few buttons.
“Looks like it,” Mark replied, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
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I pressed the emergency button and explained the situation. The response came: we’d have to wait about two hours.
Mark sighed and sat on the floor, stretching his legs out in front of him. After a moment, I did the same.
“So, tell me about yourself,” he said, tilting his head toward me.
“What?” I chuckled, raising an eyebrow.
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“What’s funny?” he asked, looking genuinely confused.
“Come on, I’ve worked here for years, and most people don’t even know I exist. Why the sudden interest?” I asked, crossing my arms.
“I’m just curious,” he said, shrugging.
“Then why don’t you tell me about yourself?” I countered, narrowing my eyes.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Oh, please. You probably know everything about me already,” Mark smirked. “Everyone does.”
That made me laugh again. “That confidence.”
“What? Is that a bad thing?” he asked, grinning.
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“No, not if it’s real. But being invisible has given me an advantage—I notice things. And you, Mark, are nothing but an act. A performer trying to mask his insecurities with fake confidence. So what’s behind all of it? Daddy issues? Mommy didn’t pay attention to you?” I asked, leaning back against the wall.
“Oh, screw you,” he muttered, rolling his eyes.
We sat in silence for a while until Mark finally spoke again.
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“My dad left us when I was three. My mom raised me alone. Then, when I was a teenager, he suddenly came back and tried to mold me into his perfect son. I guess I’m still trying to prove something to him,” he admitted, his voice quieter than usual.
“I get it,” I said, my voice softer now.
Mark looked at me curiously.
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“My mom left us. My dad raised me alone. But she never came back. The last time I saw her, I was thirteen. She told me she was ashamed I was her daughter because, at my age, she had been way more popular,” I said, my throat tightening slightly at the memory.
“She’s an idiot,” Mark said, shaking his head. “I asked Anthony about you. You have the best results in the company. I thought I did. And you’re beautiful, even if your lack of confidence hides it.”
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“Guess everyone copes with trauma differently,” I said, managing a small smile.
“Guess so,” Mark replied.
Just then, the elevator started moving again. When we stepped out, Mark grabbed my wrist.
“How about that drink now?” he asked, his voice gentler than before.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“If you’re going to be the guy from the elevator, then fine. But if you’re putting the mask back on, I’ll pass,” I said, tilting my head slightly.
“I’ll try to be myself,” Mark promised.
And so, we went to a bar. Then the next day. And the next. Before I knew it, we were spending time together every day—even on weekends.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I saw a different side of Mark. The real him. The one who was afraid of spiders and teared up when a dog died in a movie.
One evening, I couldn’t resist anymore—I kissed him. And the moment I did, I knew it was right. With him, I felt like myself.
One day at the office, I stood outside Anthony’s office and heard voices inside. I hadn’t planned to listen, but I couldn’t help it.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“I told you—I know how to win someone over,” Mark said.
“I didn’t think Sara would fall for it. But you win—the dating app project is yours,” Anthony replied.
“Thanks, but—” Mark started, but I wasn’t listening anymore.
I turned and rushed to the bathroom, locked the door, and leaned against it. My breath came in quick, uneven bursts. My hands shook. Tears slid down my face before I could stop them.
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He had lied. He had tricked me to take my job. Every moment we had spent together had been a performance. And I was the fool who believed it. Worse—I had started falling for him.
I forced myself to breathe. I couldn’t fall apart now. Not over him.
I wiped my face, fixed my makeup, and straightened my blazer. Then, I walked straight to Anthony’s office.
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“Oh, Sara, I was just about to talk to you,” he said, looking up from his desk.
“I’d like to accept your offer to work abroad. If it’s still available,” I said, keeping my voice steady.
“It is. What changed your mind?” Anthony asked, raising an eyebrow.
“You were right—there are more opportunities for me there,” I said.
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He studied me for a moment. “When can you leave?”
“Tomorrow,” I replied.
“Tomorrow? Are you sure?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Alright, I’ll make the arrangements. You can take the rest of the day off to pack.”
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I thanked him and walked out. My hands clenched around my bag. I saw Mark heading toward me.
I didn’t slow down. I grabbed my things and stepped into the elevator before he could reach me.
By morning, I was in a taxi headed to the airport. Music played in my headphones, drowning everything else out.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
I watched the city blur past. Then, in my window, I saw Mark’s car pull up alongside mine.
He motioned for me to roll down the window. I ignored him. He honked. Annoyed, I lowered it.
“What? Are you here to tell me more lies?” I shouted.
“What are you talking about?” he asked.
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“I know about your deal with Anthony. If I fell for you, you’d get the dating app project,” I said.
“No—I mean, yes, that was the deal. But not anymore. Everything changed when I started spending time with you,” Mark said.
“More lies! I can’t believe I fell for you, that I even started to have feelings for you!” I yelled.
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“Really?” Mark asked.
I just rolled up the window and turned away.
A second later, he swerved his car in front of mine, blocking the road. My taxi and other cars behind us came to a halt, their horns blaring in frustration.
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It was chaos. Mark hurried over, pulled open my door, and looked at me desperately.
“Listen to me,” he said. “I turned down the dating app project.”
“Don’t lie,” I said, stepping out of the taxi.
“I’m not lying. It’s the truth,” he insisted. “Please, don’t go.”
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“And why is that?” I asked.
“Because you’re the only person I can be real with. The only one I don’t have to pretend around,” Mark said. “That’s why I won’t let you get on that damn plane.”
“No one asked for your opinion,” I said.
“I’m falling for you too, Sara. Please,” he begged.
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My mind screamed at me to get back in the taxi, go to the airport, and forget Mark.
But my heart had already decided. My feet moved before I could stop them, bringing me closer to him. He pulled me into his arms and kissed me.
“I see you, Sara. And I will never let you feel invisible again,” Mark whispered before kissing me again.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
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