Algorithms and the mountain | Nature <b>Cities</b>

The seamless logic of digital platforms often stumbles upon the stubborn reality of geography. Renhao Yang explores Chongqing’s extreme verticality, and reflects on how traditional labor bridges the gap between flat algorithmic maps and the complex terrain of the mountain city.

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References

- Roast, A. Urban Stud. 61, 636–653 (2024).

- Cheshmehzangi, A. City Walks in Chongqing (Springer, 2025).

Acknowledgements

The author was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (42401238).

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Yang, R. Algorithms and the mountain. Nat Cities (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44284-026-00468-2

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- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44284-026-00468-2