Speed and Love: The Viral Motorcyclists of Chongqing
Along the riverfront of China’s “cyberpunk city,” leather-clad women and muscular men stand next to gleaming motorcycles offering to take tourists on a fast-paced ride, all to capture the perfect social media video.
The process is down to a science. Riders choose one of the package options and a storyline, a team films the introduction, and then the rider is whisked away pursued by a videographer for prices between $25 to $100 USD. There are even booths to rent leather clothing and makeup artists for an extra fee.
It’s become a huge business for China’s youth in Chongqing, built around the city’s long-standing reputation as a motorcycle hub and recently viral “cyberpunk” aesthetic that has attracted visitors from all over the world.