Gangxia West Village at the beginning of the eviction process. - Gangxia West Village, Shenzhen, China, April 2009
At the beginning of the demolition of Gangxia West Village. - Gangxia West Village, Shenzhen, China, April 2009
Gangxia West Village, Shenzhen, China, June 2009
Gangxia West Village, Shenzhen, China, August 2009
Gangxia West Village, Shenzhen, China, October 2009
Gangxia West Village, Shenzhen, China, August 2010
The cross section of one of the remaining building more than one year after Gangxia West Village officially closed. The picture is combined with multiple photographs. Shenzhen, China, August 2010
The already built high-rise towers in the Central Business District adjacent to Gangxia West Village. Shenzhen, China, April 2009
The scene of the demolition of Gangxia West Village. The debris and frames of windows and doors were hauled away by the contractors for recycling. The sign of good luck remained on a dismantled door. Shenzhen, China. April 2009
The scene of the demolition of Gangxia West Village. The debris and frames of windows and doors were hauled away by the contractors for recycling. Shenzhen, China. April 2009
Regardless the official order to evict Gangxia West Village, by March 2009 some building owners had not signed the agreement with the developer. These owners advertised their buildings for available rooms to rent. The text on the wooden door read: Room available for rent (agreement not signed), two-bed room flat or single room. Shenzhen, China, April 2009
The scene of the demolition of Gangxia West Village. Shenzhen, China, April 2009
After the eviction date, some small shops kept open. Shenzhen, China, April, 2009
Some residents rents from the remaining Gangxia West Village property owners who had not yet signed the agreement with the developers, even after the eviction date. April 22, 2009
A map was left on the wall after the hotel in Ganxia West Village closed in March 2009. Shenzhen, China, March 2009
Mr. Li, an apartment renter in Gangxia West Village. His family was facing eviction as the village was to be demolished. The family had been in Shenzhen for 20 years. - Gangxia West Village, Shenzhen, China, Mark 2009
Mr. Li, an apartment renter in Gangxia West Village. His family was facing eviction as the village was to be demolished. The family had been in Shenzhen for 20 years. - Gangxia West Village, Shenzhen, China, March 2009
Some residents remained in Gangxia West Village after the official eviction order of the village took effect on March 15, 2009. Shenzhen, China, March 2009
The site of the to-be-demolished factory at Gangxia West Village. Shenzhen, China, March, 2009
The factories housed in the urban villages like Gangxia West Village were the first batch of structure to be demolished. The factories were collectively owned by the originally members of the village. Shenzhen, China, March 2009
Gangxia West Village was one of the 200 odd urban villages in Shenzhen and was also home to more than 60,000 residents, most of whom were migrants from the countryside. In early 2009, it was officially announced by the local authority of Shenzhen that Gangxia West Village was to be demolished to make room for the development of the Central Business District of Shenzhen. On March 15, 2009, the eviction of resident started. Gangxia West Village at the beginning of the eviction process. Shenzhen, China, March 2009
A few migrant workers remained in Gangxia West Village during the demolition as they were hired by the management company to clean up the facilities. - Shenzhen, China, March 2009
Extremely narrow alleys between buildings are common in urban village such as Gangxia West Village, in which the buildings on each side are referred to as “Hand-Shake” buildings. These narrow alleys are fire safety concerns and are not in compliance with the Building Code. Shenzhen, China, March 13, 2009
The sign of Gangfa Hotel was the lone one remaining in this alley in Gangxia West Village. The owner of the hotel signed the lease with the building in 2008. One year after, the demolition of Gangxia West Village started. - Gangxia Village, Shenzhen, China, March 2009
Four days after the official closing of Gangxia West, the main electricity supply was cut off. At night, children burn garbage in an abandoned site that previously housed a nighttime food market. Shenzhen, China, March 19, 2009
One of the main entrance from the street to Gangxia West Village. Four days after the official closing of Gangxia West, the main electricity supply was cut off. Shenzhen, China, March 19, 2009
The only remaining hotel in Gangxia West Village after March 15, 2009. Shenzhen, China, March 19, 2009
One workshop continued its operation into the night after the eviction order of Gangxia West Village took effect on March 15. Shenzhen, China, March, 2009
One movie theater remained open after the eviction order took effect in Gangxia West Village. Shenzhen, China, March 2009
The village employed extra security personnel to make sure the moving out 0f Gangxia West Village in order. Shenzhen, China, March 2009
Mr. Li’s daughter’s room in Gangxia West Village. Shenzhen, China, March 14, 2009
Mr. Li’s roommate’s son was washing dishes in the shared kitchen. Shenzhen, China, March 2009
The calendar on the wall of Mr. Li’s home displayed the day before the official closing of Gangxia West Village. Mr. Li’s family had lived in Gangxia West Village for 20 years since they migrated to Shenzhen from the countryside. Shenzhen, China, March 14, 2009
Mr. Li’s roommate’s eight-year-old son cooked for himself and his sister while their parents worked during the weekends. The two families share a living room to watch TV. Shenzhen, China, March 14, 2009
Mr. Li and his family were among 60,000 residents lived at Gangxia West Village. It was one of the rooms in the aparetment he rented prior to moving out Gangxia West Village. Shenzhen, China, March 14, 2009
The kid of one of the families’ who remained in Gangxia West Village after the eviction order took effect. Shenzhen, China, March 2009
In the late 1990s, Shenzhen embarked on plans for an ambitious new civic center and a central business district master plan. As the plan moved forward, Gangxia West Village was the last urban village left standing within the planning boundary of the Shenzhen Central Business District. Following demolition, workers would scour the area for recyclables and salvageable materials. Shenzhen, China, March 2009
The developer posted the announcement of eviction on the bulletin board in Gangxia West Village. Shenzhen, China, March 2009
Shortly before the eviction order took effect, the shops in Gangxia West Village were selling off the inventory. Shenzhen, China, March 12, 2009
Shortly before the eviction order took effect, the shops in Gangxia West Village were selling off the inventory. The words on the wall read: Bye-bye Gangxia, Moving out tonight. Shenzhen, China, March 12, 2009
The people were cleaning up the rooms before the eviction order took effect at Gangxia West Village. Shenzhen, China, March 12, 2009
The price tags on the wall in a hotel that had closed by March 15, 2009 in Gangxia West Village. Shenzhen, China, March 2009
Mr. Cao owned this hotel since 2008. One year after in 2009, the eviction of Gangxia West Village was announced. Soon he had to close this hotel. March 2009
One of the restaurants remained open at the beginning of the eviction of Gangxia West Village. Shenzhen, China, March 2009
Mr. Li’s 5-member family moved out Gangxia West Village eventually and moved in to a 20-square meters one-room apartment. The faded characters on the balcony above indicate that the space was previously used as a barbershop. Shenzhen, China, June 2009
Mr. Li’s daughter and sons were watching a TV program on the computer. - Shenzhen, China, June 2009
The interior of Mr. Li.s apartment in Fumin Xin Cun. The five members of the family share a bunk bed in the 20-square-meter apartment. Shenzhen, China, June 2009
Mr. Li’s with his daughter in their a 20-square meters one-room apartment. Shenzhen, China, June 2009
Mr. Li’s 5-member family moved out Gangxia West Village eventually and moved in to a 20-square-meter one-room apartment. Shenzhen, China, June 2009
One of the last buildings standing among a pile of debris in Gangxia West Village, Shenzhen, August 2009. The building’s owner had yet to sign an agreement with the property developer and the government, preventing them from tearing down the structure and constructing something else on the land. At the time this photograph was taken, part of the building was still being rented out and lived in by migrant workers. Later a local newspaper reported that the building owners were well compensated, some receiving more than US$2 million. Shenzhen, China, August, 2009
The scene of the demolition of Gangxia West Village. Shenzhen, China, August 2009
By August 2009, 5 months after the official order of eviction took in effect, some building owner yet signed the agreement with the developer. Some of them advertised the available rooms to attract the prospect renters who were looking for lower rent. The sign on the wall read: Not Signed, (cell number) by this building’s owner. Shenzhen, China, August 2009
The scene of the demolition of Gangxia West Village. The debris and frames of windows and doors were hauled away by the contractors for recycling. - Gangxia West Village, Shenzhen, China, August 2009
Before the 2010 Shanghai Expo the government offered an opportunity to the residents to move out Land 1289, West Yan’an Road in exchange to the no protest during the Expo. Some residents took the offer and moved out, yet some did not. -Shanghai, China, September 2010
Shikumen (石库门) is one of the famous and unique architectural typoliogy. In the reality, many shikumen style house are in very poor condition and tucked behind the new buildings. Shanghai, China, October 2009
Due to poor condition of the upper floor and the roof, the residents had to abandon the upper floor of the building and live only on the ground floor. The building is at Lane 1289 West Yan’an Road in the center of Shanghai. Shanghai, China, July 2009
One family in Lane 1289 West Yan’an Road has been using a chest as a column and timber as a beam to prevent their roof from collapsing. Lane 1289 is one of the neighborhoods that were tucked behind the new buildings and left out from the urban renewal project. Shanghai, China, July 2009
A large Chinese character, “Chai” 拆 (demolish), is painted in red on the wall at the entrance to the neighborhood. Usually, the character is painted by the authority to identify the buildings and neighborhoods to be demolished, however this particular character was painted by the residents in the hope that the urban renewal projects would finally reach them. Street administrative officials routinely erase the character, but the residents repaint it by evening. Shanghai, China, July 2009
On the address book Lane 1290 West Yan’an Road is a prime location in Shanghai. Nevertheless, the neighborhood is consisted with a group of out-of-date small buildings that were constructed in the 1950s. Lane 1290 is not uncommon but one of many similar neighborhoods pocketed behind the new buildings in the center of Shanghai. Shanghai, China, July 2009
The picture of Mr. Lu’s wife who passed away many years ago. Shanghai, China, July 2009
Mr. Lu’s home at Lane 1290 West Yan’an Road, Shanghai. He has lived at this address since 1950s. Shanghai, China, July 2009
West Yan’an Road is a prime location in the center of Shanghai. But behind the high-rise towers, there are many neighborhoods with outdated and rundown buildings. These buildings were built in the 1950s and the 1960s. Most of these buildings were in very poor condition. West Yan’an Road 1290 Lane is one of such neighborhoods. Mr. Lu has lived in the same building since the 1950s. He rents the space from the municipality yet, his rent is very little. In the past decades, he missed a few opportunities to move out the neighborhood. As the planning and housing policies kept on changing, Mr. Lu didn’t feel optimistic of the next opportunity to move out. Mr. Lu has been living alone since his children moved to the suburbs of Shanghai. July 31, 2009
Mr. Lu, one of the residents who were stuck in the neighborhoods on West Yan'an Road. Despite the location was prime, their living condition had been very poor. Shanghai, July 31, 2009
The interior of a resident’s home at Lane 1289, West Yan’an Road. Shanghai, China, July 2009
After days of heavy rain, the residents who lives at Lane 1289 West Yan’an Road consolidated their belongings to the dry area to avoid the damage from the water leaked in from the roof. Shanghai, China, July 2009
Ms. Ding stands in a narrow alley of Lane 1290 West Yan’an Road in Shanghai. Shanghai, China, July 2009
One of the residents’ home at Lane 1290 West Yan’an Road, Shanghai. Shanghai, China, July 2009
Mr. Lu’s home at Lane 1290 West Yan’an Road, Shanghai. Shanghai, China, July 2009
Mr. Lu in his home at Land 1290 West Yan’an Road. The condition of his home is typical in the neighborhood. Shanghai, China, July 2009
Make shift shelf above the sink. Lane 1290, West Yan’an Road, Shanghai, China, July 2009
Ms. Qi in her living space that was constructed by utilizing and roofing over the narrow alley between the buildings. Shanghai, China, July 2009
Ms. Qi and her neighbor in front their homes in Land 1290, West Yan’an Road. Shanghai, China, July 2009
Ms. Qi’s family built a closet-like annex out into the alley as a kitchenette which a lockable door to secure the gas range. Shanghai, China, May 2009
Sunlight is a luxury in interior spaces, as this neighborhood is limited by an out-of-date building arrangement and is continually overshadowed by high-rise towers. June 3, 2009
Many buildings at Lane 1289 West Yan’an Road were constructed before 1949, and at least two generations of the residents have lived in the neighborhood since that time. June 3, 2009
Compared to Lane 1290, the neighborhood of Lane 1289 contains some courtyard spaces for residents to enjoy and escape the dark interiors of the buildings. Shanghai, China, May 2009
Residents of Lane 1289, Ms. Qiao and Mr. Bao, who retired in 1985. In their home, they proudly showcase the acknowledgment of their retirement form their former working unites. Shanghai, China, June 2009
Mr. Qiao and Mr. Bao in there single room that serves as home, Lane 1289, West Yan’an Road, Shanghai , China, June 2009
Ms. Ding and her family use brick blocks to elevate the beds and dressers to keep them from being soaked during the frequent summertime floods. Shanghai, China, May 2009
Ms. Qi’s five-member family shares a home that consists primarily of a 10-square-meter room at Lane 1290, West Yan’an Road. Shanghai, China, May 2009
A street vendor was selling stuffed animals and toys on the street. Shanghai, China, January 2010
The scaled model in the Shanghai Urban Planning Museum shows the architecture in the Bund in Shanghai. The Bund was established in early 20th century has dozens of historical buildings, lining the Huangpu River, that once housed numerous bank and trading company. In the background, the exhibition showed he a cluster of modern buildings in Puxi. Shanghai, China, January 2010
A delivery guy was riding a bike across the street in the center of Shanghai. Shanghai, China, January 2010
A typical scene of street crossing in Shanghai. Shanghai, China, January 2010
Tongchuan Road fruit Wholesale Market, Shanghai, China, January 2010
A resident of Lane 202, Shandong Zhong Road, Shanghai, China, January 2010
Ms. Wu has lived in Lane 202, Shandong Zhong Road in the center of Shanghai for almost sixty years. Shanghai, China, January 2010
The advertisement on the windows of the real estate sales agent’s. Shanghai, China, January 2010
The posters showing the housing information for the to be relocated residents. Shanghai, China, January 2010
Migrant worker at Tongchuan Road Seafood Wholesale Market. Shanghai, China, January 2010
Tongchuan Road Seafood Wholesale Market, Shanghai, China, January 2001
Dusk hour outside of the seafood wholesale market. Shanghai, China, January 2010
Dusk hour in Shanghai. Shanghai, China, January 2010
The tourists took ferry to cross the Huangpu River that divide Puxi and Pudong. Shanghai, China, January 2010
The old woman was collecting the used styrofoam containers from the vendors to recycle. Shanghai, China, January 2010
The Tongchuan Road Seafood Wholesale market was one of the largest seafood market in Shanghai before it was demolished. Majority of vendors were migrants. The utilized the small room for living, where they could also take care of the business. It wasn’t uncommon as housing cost was high. Shanghai, China, January 2010
Collecting recyclables was one of many businesses the migrant workers did to make living. Shanghai, China, January 2010
A mirgrant worker was dragging the heavily loaded tricycle across the bridge on the Suzhou River. Shanghai, China, January 2010
A neighborhood close to the center of Shanghai. Shanghai, China, January 2010
The evening in Shanghai along the Suzhou River. Shanghai, China, January 2010
Winter street scene in Shanghai, Shanghai, China, January 2010
A migrant couple were sorting out the trash for recyclables. The image reflected in the mirror is famous the Shanghai Financial Center and The Oriental Pearl Radio & Television Tower that are hallmarks of the modernization and prosperity of Shanghai. Shanghai, China, January 2010
A month prior to Chinese New Year, people were waiting to purchase train ticket to go back hometown. Shanghai, China, January 2010
A panoramic model of Shanghai at Shanghai Planning Museum. Shanghai, China, January 2010
The large scaled mixed use real estate project started to emerge at the then outskirts of Shanghai, Shanghai, China, December 2009
Street vendor was selling scarfs on the street. Shanghai, China, December 2009
Prior to the 2010 Shanghai Expo, the city of Shanghai overhaul the infrastructure including adding more subway lines. Shanghai, China, December 2009
Gucun in Baoshan District is one of the major sites for the “dual” 10 millionaire square-meters subsidized housing project announced in 2005. November 2009
Construction site at the outskirts of Shanghai. Shanghai, China, December 2009
The cost of housing has skyrocketed in China since 2008. For the young people, the pressure was enormous to own an apartment. The advertisement on the subway’s door read: Let’s get married earlier (in order to be eligible for buying the apartment). Shanghai, China, December 2009
The migrant workers were looking through the advertisements for the next suitable rental. The cost of housing whether to rent or to buy has skyrocketed in China. Shanghai, China, December 2009
Construction workers at the site in outskirts of Shanghai. Shanghai, China, December 2009
Construction site of single family house (villa) at the outskirts of Shanghai. Shanghai, China, December 2009
The final push to evict the last inhabited house in the neighborhood to be demolished. It was not uncommon that there was one resident refused to leave the home to keep the demolition of the neighborhood moving forward. Yet, it was also not uncommon to see the authority to use force for the first push. The public were there to see the spectacle and urban management officers and police men were there to make sure the process to move forward. Shanghai, China, November 2009
A man stood on the pedestrian bridge in Shanghai at night. Shanghai, China, November 2009
People gathered to see the spectcal of the final push to evict the last resident in the to be demolished neighborhood. t was not uncommon that there was one resident refused to leave the home to keep the demolition of the neighborhood moving forward. Yet, it was also not uncommon to see the authority to use force for the first push. The public were there to see the spectacle and urban management officers and police men were there to make sure the process to move forward. Shanghai, China, November 2009
Migrant workers from rural China (农民工）in Shanghai. Shanghai, China, November 2009
An in-progress to be demolished neighborhood for the new development. Shanghai, China, November 2009
A group of young people just arrived in Shanghai via long distance bus and were waiting for being picked up. Shanghai, China, November 2009
The city bus. Shanghai, China, November 2009
One of the construction sites in Jing’an District. The remaining wall of the halfway demolished house in the center of Shanghai. Shanghai, China, November 2009
The elevated expressway has been through entire Shanghai to increase the capacity of the network of roads. Shanghai, China, November 2009
The commercial real estate was booming in the area where the new Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport was being constructed in 2009. Shanghai, China, October 2009
The real estate sales person was selling apartments. The apartments listed on his whiteboard are all multimillion dollars properties. Shanghai, China, October 2009
A child living his grandparents in an old neighborhood in Shanghai. Shanghai, China, October 2009
The elderly and children were the common residents in the old neighborhood in Shanghai. Shanghai, China, October 2009
The man was transporting the collected recyclable waste from a construction site. He made living by trading the collected recyclables. Shanghai, China, October 2009
Outside of one of many construction sites in Shanghai. Shanghai, China, October 2009
Construction site in Shanghai. Shanghai, China, October 2009
A computer-generated image of new real estate development depicts the upcoming boom in Changing District due to the newly announced plans for redeveloping nearby Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. Shanghai, China, October 2009
The elderly was common residents in the old neighborhood in Shanghai. Shanghai, China, October 2009
The words on the fence read: Dachong (the name of the village’s) renewal is irreversible. Dachong was one of the urban village undertaking the renewals process in Shenzhen in 2009. Shenzhen, China, August 2009
The village center at Nantou Village, one of the urban villages in Shenzhen. Shenzhen, China, June 2009
The confessional in a Catholic Church located in Natou Village, one of the urban villages in Shenzhen. Shenzhen, China, June 2009
The urban village itself has been evolving as well. The picture revealed the original building on the site that was probably constructed in the 1980s when the urban villages were formed in Shenzhen
The makeshift alter in a Catholic Church located in Natou Village, one of the urban villages in Shenzhen. Shenzhen, China, June 2009
The construction site outside of the 2010 Shanghai Expo. Shanghai, China, June 2009
Ms. Lu Ping’s mother in the family apartment in Shanghai. As the family’s farming land was converted to build urban housing in the 2000s, the family was compensated with an apartment. Shanghai, China, June 2009
Nantou Village is one of the urban villages in Shenzhen. Shenzhen, China, June 2009
The photographs from Ms. Lu Ping’s family album. The right end one was her childhood and the left one was her mother. Ms. Lu Ping and her family are native of Shanghai but held rural residency registration. They family has been trying leverage the land and land rights allocated to the family to go through the ever changing city. Shanghai, China, June 2009
The wholesale traders built warehouse in outskirt of Shanghai. Often, they also used the warehouse for housing purpose. Shanghai, China, April 2009
One of the migrant workers in Shenzhen. He worked as a security personnel to a state-own contractor to build subways. He traveled with the contractor and lived in the on-site makeshift dorm. He said it was a good way to save money since housing had been extremely expensive and unaffordable. Shenzhen, China, April 2009
The Louhu Port is one of the first established ports of entry and border crossing between mainland China and Hong Kong. It was opened on June 14, 1984 and was the busiest land crossing in the year of 2006 and 2007. The number of people crossing the port has been declining as more ports have been established. Shenzhen, China, March 2009
The remaining Yumin Village properties to be developed in the second phase of renewal. Shenzhen, China, March 2009
A scaled model of Yumin Village in the 1980s. Yunmin Village was one of the first few villages in which the villagers’ income exceeded RMB 10,000 yuan during the 1980s. - Shenzhen, China, March 2009
Yumin Village is one of the first urban villages in Shenzhen. The original villagers had been able to leverage the allocated land to create real estate projects. Shenzhen, China, March, 2009
The official of Yumin Village in Shenzhen. Yumin Village was one the first few villages in which the villagers’ income exceeded RMB 10,000 yuan during the 1980s. Yumin Village is one of the first urban villages in Shenzhen. The original villagers had been able to leverage the allocated land to create real estate projects. Shenzhen, China, March, 2009
Ms. Zhou came to Shenzhen from a rural village in Hunan Province when she was 17 years old. She was pay RMB 1,000 Yuan to share a two-bed apartment with a roommate. The apartment was in one of the urban villages. She considered the rent was affordable but was not sure what would happen in the near future as many urban villages in Shenzhen were demolished. - Shenzhen, China, March 2009
Huafu Village is a residential compound constructed by the Shenzhen government in the 1990s to provide housing for the government workers and officials. By 2009, most of the original residents have moved to other locations yet remain the homeowners of the units. Most of the units were rent to the migrants by the individual owners. Shenzhen, China, March 2009
Gangxia East Village is located one street out side of the boundary of the Central Business District of Shenzhen. The village avoided the urgency to be demolished in 2009. Gangxia East Village, Shenzhen, China, November 2008.
The construction site of Shenzhen’s subway line. Shenzhen, China. November 2008
The post in urban village advertising the available room and bed for rent. It was common for the migrant worker to rent bed in order to save money. Shenzhen, China, November 2008
The words painted on the wall read: to be demolished tomorrow. The authority used the paint to the wall to mark the neighborhood to be demolished. Shanghai, China, May 2008
Near Luxun Park, Shanghai, China, May 2008
The sentences painted on the wall read: “ Return my housing right!” It was a protest to the eviction and demolition of a neighborhood in Shanghai. Shanghai, China, May 2008
In 2008, Moganshan Road was one of the neighborhood to be demolished to make room for new development. Shanghai, China, May 2008
In 2010, two years after the process to redevelop Moganshan Road started, the developer and the government agencies were still negotiating with the residents to be relocated. Shanghai, China, January 2010
June 2009, prior to the opening of the 2010 Shanghai Expo, the process to renovate the buildings in the proximity of the site of the expose was drumming up. Shanghai, China, June 2009
In Nov, half year before the 2010 Shanghai Expo, the scaffolding and protective wraps around the buildings in the proximity of the expo site went off. It revealed the renovation for the expo was mostly to repaint the facade of the buildings. Shanghai, China November 2009
Jing’an District in Shanghai. The mix of old neighborhoods that are composed of low rise buildings and skyscrapers. Shanghai, China, June 2009
Putuo District located in the western part of Shanghai. Before the late 1970s, it was a traditional rural district. In June 2009, it was one of the largest urban residential districts. Shanghai, China, June 2009
The aerial view of Shanghai. Shanghai, China, January 2010
Putuo District was experiencing the transformation to develope all available land into commodity real estate.
The aerial view of Shanghai. Shanghai, China, November 2008
