In an era of accelerating population growth, mass urbanisation, and
increasing pressure on the natural environment, the megacities of
China's eastern seaboard have become a focal point of architectural and
urban-design attention. The “reform and opening-up era” has touched
China's major cities in different ways, affecting the existing fabric of
dynastic capitals, trade hubs, and former European colonies and
concessions; this in turn has provided the setting for a range of
complex reactions by contemporary architects. The Architectural Guide
China provides city-by-city coverage including historic maps and
background information on urban form. Building on the authors' years of
experience leading architectural study tours, this book is the first
comprehensive English-language survey of recent Chinese architecture
presented in the form of a travel guide.
