Dezeen Magazine

Tour BigPixel's interactive 195-gigapixel image of Shanghai

Our latest captioned movie explores a 195-gigapixel panoramic image of Shanghai, created by Chinese technology firm BigPixel.

The interactive image can be accessed worldwide using a website that enables users to pan across and zoom into it, so that even facial expressions and license plates at ground level are discernible.

BigPixel spent two months digitally constructing the image from thousands of smaller photographs, which were captured from the Oriental Pearl Tower using regular cameras that had special telephoto lens attachments.

The image was created in 2015, but went viral at the end of 2018 following rumours that it had been taken using new surveillance technology affixed to a Chinese satellite.

Find out more about the BigPixel image ›