Step Inside the Dystopian Mega-Structure Where 20,000 Lives Unfold Like a Real-Life Black Mirror Episode

Ever wonder what it’d be like to live in a building so enormous that 20,000 people call it home—without ever stepping outside? Sounds like a dystopian fever dream, right? Well, welcome to the Regent International in China, a colossal complex that’s been turning heads and going viral as the real-life version of a Black Mirror episode. Designed initially to be a six-star hotel, this beast morphed into a mini-city packed with everything from nail salons to swimming pools, making it almost unnecessary to face the outside world. For some, that might sound like a claustrophobic nightmare, but for its residents, it’s a convenient, self-contained life bubble. Intrigued by this architectural behemoth that’s part high-rise, part small town? Hang on, because there’s a heck of a lot more that goes into how it functions, who lives there, and what it really feels like on the inside. LEARN MORE

These images show the inside of the humongous building that houses 20,000 people.

Likened to being something straight out of Black Mirror, the Regent International has gone viral online a number of times because of this comparison.

And to be honest, you can imagine it featuring in an episode, with those living there never having to step outside into the real world.

While it might sound like torture to some of us to be stuck in the same place 24/7, for the residents here it’s a pretty convenient perk.

From barber shops to swimming pools, it’s supposed to have literally everything a person can need. So basically, it’s almost like its own little world in this whopper complex.

Yeah, like I said, very Black Mirror-esque, right?

Around 20,000 people call the apartment complex home. (Plus Housing)

Where is the building?

Found in China, the Regent International is located in Qianjiang Century City in Hangzhou’s central business district.

You can certainly spot it too, standing at a huge 675ft tall with 260,000 square metres of space, meaning it’s one of the largest buildings in the country.

And it’s supposed to house about 30,000 people.

The apartments are popular with younger folks, such as students and graduates. (Plus Housing)

Why is it so unique?

So, when Alicia Loo (who also happens to be the chief designer of the world’s second seven-star hotel, the Singapore Sands Hotel) designed the Regent International, it was initially intended to be a six-star hotel.

But instead, it ended up becoming home to the thousands, offering them literally everything they could need.

There’s nail salons, medium-sized supermarkets, a whopping food court and even internet cafes.

So essentially, as well as all the living spaces, there’s the kind of amenities you’d find on your local high street.

Of course, residents can come and go if they want but the idea is that basically, they don’t actually need to.

Looks alright on the inside, but just hope it doesn’t become a ghost town. (Plus Housing)

What does it look like inside?

While the complex sounds impressive, much of the inside of the flats seems pretty run-of-the-mill. Yeah, disappointing.

Although fairly basic, the flats, like the place itself, have just about everything you could need for comfortable living.

An estate agent’s listing for the apartments, showed a compact kitchen with fitted units and worktops; three decent-sized bedrooms, with room for double beds; two bathrooms – one with a bathtub and one with a fitted shower; and a multifunctional living space.

Interiors are decorated in a fairly neutral style with laminate flooring in the bedrooms and marble tiles elsewhere.

The apartment also comes complete with furniture including, washing machine, dining table, sofa and microwave – meaning renters can move straight in.

It’s said the building is particularly popular with students, graduates and young professionals.

And if you’re curious about how much it costs to live there, small apartments without windows usually go for around 1,500 RMB per month (£167.58), according to local news outlets.

Meanwhile, some of the larger properties with balconies are on the market for 4,000 RMB per month (£446.88).