Inside ‘dystopian' apartment block where its 20,000 residents never need to go outside
The huge S-shaped building is located in Hangzhou, China
A huge apartment block in China is said to be the world's largest and most densely populated building in the world.
If you thought your residential block in New York had a lot of people living there, then think again, as this single building is reported to house a staggering 20,000 people.
The building in question is the Regent International Apartment Complex, which is located in Qianjiang Century City, Hangzhou’s central business area.
There are an impressive 5,000 apartments in the S-shaped establishment that stands 675ft tall, and offers 260,000 square metres of space.
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The apartments vary in size, says Parametric Architecture, with some studios, and bigger apartments with multiple rooms.
But it's not just apartments in the colossal building, there's space for people to live, work, and socialize, meaning theoretically, occupants need never leave the complex.
You're probably wondering exactly what amazing facilities this building has to keep people inside, and, well, this is very much dependant on what side of the building you live on.
But whatever side it may be, you are going to find facilities just like you'd find in your local town.
This includes a massive food court, barber shops, nail salons, medium-sized supermarkets, swimming pools, and even internet cafes.
The building has previously gone viral on social media thanks to TikTok coverage of its facilities.
While what is inside is certainly impressive, the sheer scale of the building is what has grabbed many people's attention online.
In a video uploaded to TikTok by the user @fatheristheone, the immensity of the building is showcased with incredible drone footage.
When the building was designed by Alicia Loo, the chief designer of the world’s second seven-star hotel, the Singapore Sands Hotel, it was intended to be a six-star hotel.
But it now thrives as a building boasting thousands of apartments, and hosting even more residents.
The swanky apartments are popular amongst students, graduates and young professionals.
And if you're curious about how much it costs to live here, small apartments without windows (yes, you read that correctly) usually go for around 1,500 RMB per month ($210), according to local news outlets.
Meanwhile, some of the larger properties with balconies are on the market for 4,000 RMB per month ($570), which is substantially cheaper than renting in New York. According to Apartments.com, the average monthly rent in The Big Apple is more than $4,000.
Niamh Shackleton