At the heart of Guangzhou, one of China’s most modern cities, lies a hidden world — **Shipai Village**. Just steps away from luxury malls and skyscrapers, this tiny 0.73 km² maze houses over **100,000 residents**. Once a rural village, Shipai became a vertical labyrinth of “handshake buildings” — where walls almost touch and sunlight barely reaches the ground. It’s often called *the modern-day Kowloon Walled City* for its density, chaos, and raw humanity.
In this video, I explore Shipai’s narrow alleys, neon-lit signs, and everyday life inside this urban village — a place where *migrant workers chase their dreams**, and **native villagers collect annual dividends* from their rental empire. Soon, this neighborhood will disappear due to redevelopment — but its story captures a unique moment in China’s urban history. Watch this fascinating video, courtesy of Cinthia Lin.
For the adventuresome, China is Valhalla. We can help get you to China and More. To book with us, click here
We can help get you to China and More. To book with us, click here.