ubcsala [china] 2007

On June 7 at B.A.S.E. Beijing, the final event for the course took place. Following is the project statement and some event photos:

LINE 13: CIVIC SPACE UNDER DEVELOPMENT
When the West thinks of China’s current transformation - it thinks big. The world’s most populous nation builds the world’s largest dam; its economy grows at a rate […]

Old traditional courtyard houses in Beijing now be covered by glass shell and used as restaurant

Traditional Shanghai Lilong

Lives in Lilong

‘Regeneration’ project in Shanghai Xintiandi
In Beijing and Shanghai, we see a lot of traditional houses and communities being knocked down, or ‘restored’. Confronted with this concept, I often doubt whether those deserve protection are protected, and […]

Stone lion in mausoleum of Sun Yat-sen

Stone lion in front of Bank in Beijing

Steel lion in Shanghai street.

Lion dance

Wooden lion in the pavilion in Garden of the Humble Administrator
When a typical Chinese, like me, is asked where to find lions in China, the answer would probably be at the zoo. Indeed, it is rather difficult […]

What is wonderful about Beijing is the diversity of leisure spaces and leisure activities available. People can enjoy the many public parks and community centers of the city or set up their own leisure spaces in their front yards or on an empty street in their neighborhood. The concepts of leisure and leisure space are […]

There is a recycling sorting ground outside my apartment with people sorting scavenged goods everyday for reuse and recycling.  Many scavenged products are reused in construction, such as old doors as a site barrier, and glass imbedded in concrete to keep from people climbing walls and birds from resting on it. None of these methods […]

According to China Daily, buses are still the most popular mode of transport among Beijing residents. There are over 17,507 buses currently on the road in Beijing. Beijing is going to replace 7,277 obsolete buses with new ones that meet higher environmental standards. Bank of Beijing will provide 4 billion Yuan to the Beijing Public […]

The bathroom inside a restaurant in Shanghai. 
The bathroom inside the Lan Club in Beijing. 
Even though the design and layout of most public toilets in China are quite consistent and standardized, the private toilets within some restaurants are surprisingly creative and diverse.  As we can see from the top image, this bathroom has an open layout […]

A two-storey public toilet facility in Shanghai. 
Like Beijing, Shanghai is also in the midst of a massive toilet modernization. Shanghai now has one toilet every 1000 feet with universal signs showing the distance and direction to the nearest public toilet. (Associated Press, May 14, 2005) Similar to Beijing, Shanghai also has a star-rating toilet system.  Instead […]

Jiangnan, south of Yangtze River delta, has long been admired for its mild weather, elegant scenery, and exquisite lifestyle. In old times, retired officials and gentry would come to deposit estates and build gardens to enjoy the rest of their lives. Private gardens sprang up in the area at the end of the feudal society. […]

Beijing to Build Largest Green Space Around Silicon Valley
A 40-hectare green square will soon be established near Zhongguancun, known as China’s “Silicon Valley” in Haidian district of China’s capital. It will become Beijing’s largest vegetation-covered square, whose total area will be equal to around 60 soccer fields. Construction of the Wanliu Century Square will feature […]