Whether walking the streets, taking public transportations, or dining in local restaurants, Shanghai will make you feel as you are experiencing two opposite extremes. As I was walking down the Renmin road toward the Bund, what I faced in front were the skyscrapers of Lujiajui, the essence of Shanghai. But on my left, there was an entire block of undeveloped old housings which you would not expect to see in the middle of Pudong cityscape, the backstreets and alleyways of the real old Shanghai.

This neighborhood of labyrinthine alleyways full of cafes, bars, craft shops, studio, galleries, and boutiques, is transformed and furnished by old houses. The buildings of shikumen(stone) architectures were built originally in the early 1900s but redeveloped and visited by many local artists who started bring in the western arts to this very traditional neighborhood.

Dashanzi Art District is a place you cannot miss during your stay in Beijing. Formal military factory complex built by German and Russian, this district full of connected factory buildings has turned into a thriving artistic community in mid 1900s. This entire district was planned by German architects who are influenced by Bauhaus style of architecture and it shows in the Avant-garde style of buildings that are kept from its original factory buildings.

When strolling through the streets in Shanghai, it is very easy to run into groups of old people playing Chinese traditional games on the side ways. It is not only those people who are playing but also those onlookers watching and commenting on the strategies and moves of the players. Ancient Chinese games are played for relaxation and mental stimulation.These games are not only to relax from hard working of the day, but also to rejuvenate your brains since most of the games require brain usage.

158号 花乡丰葆路 Fengtai, Beijing, China

by OMA Haidian, Beijing, China

by Steven Hall

by Chris Bosse, Rob Leslie-Carter 11号 Tianchen East Rd, Chaoyang, Beijing, China

The huge bubbles of ETFE,as wide as 9m in diameter, definitely are fascinating giving the impression of being in a cube of water molecules. The simplicity of the design and their effort to stay close to the initial concept and the original ideas are shown in both exterior and interior. As for the interiors, the entire ETFE skin has to deal with many issues such as air condition (mostly humidity), acoustics, and also the cleaning process for the interior.

by Herzog & de Meuron

by Herzog & de Meuron

by Herzog & de Meuron

This Chinese conceptual artist brings up a solution that would overcome every language barrier everywhere ever. Xu Bing began by cutting out icons and posting them in a book, making a kind of a dictionary. He gathered them from different fields- mathematics, chemistry, physics, architecture, electronics, music, dance, corporate logos, and road signs... Then by putting them together he started to visualize a story line along them.

Rapid developments in urban areas in Beijing create this juxtaposition of high rise buildings and old buildings in one sight.

One of the main tourist attractions in Beijing is this exotic food vendors in the main touristic regions.

by Wang Shu ( Pritzker Architecture Prize winner 2012)

by Wang Shu ( Pritzker Architecture Prize winner 2012)

by Wang Shu Xiangshan Campus, China Academy of Art, Phases I & II (2002–07), Hangzhou

by Wang Shu Xiangshan Campus, China Academy of Art, Phases I & II (2002–07), Hangzhou

Xiangshan Campus 中国美术学院

alleys

by César Pelli & Association Architects

taken near the Bund, Shanghai

in Suzhou

Huangshan, Anhui, China

Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, People's Square, Shanghai, China