BAISHIZHOU, a city corner similar to the hometown of many Shenzheners, has become the focus of public concern once again now that urban renovation is imminent. It is a place where many people who have come to Shenzhen with dreams choose to live because of the lower cost of living.

While some have left, others continue to chase their dreams here. But what remains unchanged is the memory of life in Baishizhou in Nanshan District.

Baishizhou is the largest urban village in Shenzhen. With a land area of 0.6 square kilometers, there are more than 2,000 buildings being rented to about 140,000 people, with people coming and going every year.

According to a rough estimation, it has been the home of at least 3 million people since the 1990s.

Qu Haihong, a native of Shandong Province, graduated from university in 2003 and came to Shenzhen to find a sales job in Chegongmiao in Futian District.

In order to spend less time commuting to work by bus, she and her husband rented an apartment with a bedroom and a living room for 500 yuan (US$75) a month in Baishizhou in 2007.

“We chose Baishizhou because of the convenient transportation and living conditions,” she said. Soon Baishizhou became their second home.

In 2011, after the births of their two sons, Qu was “reluctant” to leave the neighborhood, so they moved into a bigger house with two bedrooms and one living room, which cost 1,700 yuan a month. However, as time passed the rent has continued to rise, and this year it rose to 3,000 yuan per month.

This summer, in order to give her children a rich and colorful vacation, Qu made early plans to accompany them as much as possible.

Apart from sending her sons to swimming classes, she also takes them to bookstores, malls and parks. “The bookstores not only have their favorite books, but also many new technology products. They really enjoy themselves, and the cosmopolitan atmosphere will broaden their horizon.”

“I heard that Baishizhou will be torn down,” said Qu. “We’ve become accustomed to the convenient transportation and life after living here for almost 10 years. We don’t know where to move to after the demolition, so we intend to apply for a public rental apartment after we transfer our registered residence to Shenzhen.”

(Zhang Yu)