I love science fiction. It is one of my favorite genres because of the way it challenges our understanding of the world and explores possibilities beyond the present. During a recent trip to Chengdu with my family for Chinese New Year, I was delighted to discover that the city is not just famous for its adorable pandas and fiery Sichuan cuisine but has also become a hub for science fiction.
Chengdu hosted WorldCon 2023, the prestigious global science fiction convention, where the Hugo Awards are presented each year. In recent years, Chinese authors have made a significant mark on the global sci-fi scene, with books like The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin and Folding Beijing by Hao Jingfang winning the Hugo Award. Intrigued by this growing sci-fi movement, we decided to visit the Chengdu Science Fiction Museum to learn more.
Our Visit to the Chengdu Science Fiction Museum
The Chengdu Science Fiction Museum is a marvel, not only because of its contents but also because of its futuristic design. Built in record time—just 12 months from concept to completion—it’s an architectural feat that mirrors the ambitious themes of science fiction itself. Typically, a project of this scale would take 4–5 years, but this one was constructed at remarkable speed. Designed by the Zaha Hadid Architects, the building’s flowing, organic form gives it a surreal, otherworldly appearance, making it an apt setting for celebrating the genre.
Inside, the museum showcases China’s contributions to science fiction, from modern literature to new technologies inspired by sci-fi concepts. Walking through the exhibits, I noticed how science fiction is intertwined with China’s vision of the future—both in artistic expression and real-world innovation. After this visit, I felt inspired to dive into contemporary Chinese science fiction, starting with Folding Beijing, a book I had heard about but had yet to read.
Folding Beijing: A Review
What if an entire city could fold, rearrange itself, and reshape people’s lives overnight? That’s the core idea behind Folding Beijing, a thought-provoking novella by Hao Jingfang, which won the Hugo Award for Best Novelette in 2016. Set in a futuristic Beijing, the book presents a world where the city physically folds and unfolds to accommodate different social classes, restructuring itself according to government priorities.
A City That Moves
In the story, Beijing is divided into three different spaces:
First Space: Where the elite and ruling class reside, enjoying access to the city’s best resources.
Second Space: The middle class, who experience disruptions as the city folds and unfolds.
Third Space: The working class, who are only allowed access to the city for limited hours a day before it "folds" them back into the margins.
At the heart of Beijing Foldable is a simple yet gripping story: a man from Third Space, the lowest tier of Beijing’s divided society, secretly travels across spaces delivering messages between people from different classes. This seemingly small act of defiance takes on profound significance in a world where physical movement is strictly regulated, and social mobility is nearly impossible. His task takes him through First Space, Second Space, and Third Space, allowing him to witness firsthand the stark differences in how people live.
Themes of Control, Adaptation, and Identity
What fascinated me most about Folding Beijing is its exploration of power, mobility, and social division. The idea that an entire city could physically reshape itself to enforce class divisions is both an innovative sci-fi concept and a sharp social commentary. In many ways, the book mirrors the real-world challenges of urbanization, where economic forces dictate who has access to prime locations, jobs, and opportunities.
A Unique Approach to Science Fiction
Unlike the hard science fiction of The Three-Body Problem, which leans on physics and space exploration, Folding Beijing takes a more sociological and philosophical approach to sci-fi. It blends futuristic speculation with commentary on modern Chinese society, making it an essential read for anyone interested in how science fiction can reflect real-world dynamics. Jingfang’s writing is simple yet powerful. Instead of offering a grand, action-packed plot, she uses a quiet, introspective narrative style that slowly builds into something deeply unsettling. The simplicity of the story makes it all the more haunting—it doesn’t need flashy technology or intergalactic battles to be impactful.
Final Thoughts
The book left me thinking about the relationship between urbanization, government control, and human adaptability, all while immersing me in a speculative world that feels uncomfortably close to reality. If you’re interested in science fiction that goes beyond space operas and technological wonders, Folding Beijing is an intelligent, thought-provoking read that raises important questions about our world today. I am excited to continue exploring more Chinese sci-fi and my next read will be The Three-Body Problem.
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