Villages in the City ─ A Guide to South China's Informal Settlements

China’s urban villages (chengzhongcun) are rural villages that have been overtaken by high rises and slums. This book of photos and essays charts the rise and decline of Chinese urban villages and advocates for their preservation. Color photos on every page show daily life and patterns of organization in these villages and profile residents as well as many specific villages. Some subjects addressed include urban villages in special economic zones, urban villages as a sustainable form of social housing communities, and conflicts between urban villagers and municipal government. The book is for those interested in urban design. Annotation c2015 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)