Baishizhou

there's hardly any blank wall in Baishizhou. All of them are filled with colorful graffiti. There are flags, emojis, or simply words. Graffiti is the most chaotic and free forms of art. Baishizhou is born for this type of art. For all the youngsters who have too many things wanted to shout out to the rest of the world.

"帅“： handsome, gorgeous, cool, etc. We saw this specific character graffiti near the police station. I wonder who wrote this, who was so brave to conduct vandalism near the authority. Then I realize, it could be anyone in the Baishizhou. I can hear the young resident who just came to Shenzhen from their far-away hometown claiming: "We are the new arrivals, we are the future owner of this place. " and what their life itself is really "帅“.

Handshake building is a unique type of building that occurs in most urban villages in China. It refers to the condition when two buildings are constructed so close to each other that people can reach each other's hand just by standing on their balconies. Baishizhou is smaller than a golf court but contains 150 thousand people at a time. People are closely connected physically, just like nets of ants.

In Baishizhou, all the services and merchants are compacted together in a small area. Hairdressing, restaurants, supermarkets, and shops can be found everywhere inside the village. The shop shown in this picture is as small as my bedroom; however, it functioned as: kitchen appliance seller, pillow and blankets seller; lock changer and electricity and water maintainece. In Baishizhou, people have to do everything by themselves. People have to seek opportunities for living by themselves. People sustain their own life, being self-sufficient. It is the kingdom made of 150k residents.

When we arrived Baishizhou, there's actually few people. One resident told us that most buildings are under demolition now. A small metal lock tries to pull two  heavy walls together to hide the ruins. However, how is this possible to cover up the history of a vibrant community.

At the same time, new projects are constructed. On the top of these haven't finished skyscrapers, characters of "Baishizhou" shines in the sky. Is it the Baishizhou that all people in Shenzhen know? Can it replace the old urban village which provides shelter for 15k lonely souls in Shenzhen. When all the old buildings vanished. When all these fancy skyscrappers set up, who will be the master of this place? Where will rest of the people go? Have they already got what they want and leaved Baishizhou for better accomodations, have they find a new urban village and continue their past life? Or have they move away from Shenzhen when their only home finally being occupied?