I have read a report about urbanization, which mentioned that the former village becomes bustling cities. It reminds me of the consequence of unbalanced urbanization development - urban villages, where migrant workers struggled to get started. It is a mix of industrial and residential areas, where houses can rent by beds, buildings are dense, eight people live in a 10-square-meter room, and no daylight shines. It is located less than 5 kilometres from the city, but income level and living standards are very different.

The following project is in Guangzhou, Guangdong province. Before the filming, I visited more than ten villages on different scales. I found that although urban villages have poor living standards, people’s passion towards life is still strong. They have families, children and friends, and living in happiness. Therefore, I wrote their inspiring stories in the book, narrated from architecture and work to life. The cover design ANTI comes from urban villages as the prototype. It symbolizes the hardworking people that fight for fate, families, and life. And the reason why I want to make this book is to let people living in cities know that people in urban villages have happiness, not just depression and exhaustion. This project is not only to explore the problems of urbanization and human life but also to let more people know about urban villages. Thus, encouraging people from outside could provide opportunities and assistance and help them to live a better life as soon as possible.