This new exciting book includes more than 170 previously unseen ‘ghost signs’ that have been fortunately captured by photography over the past six to seven years through the cracks of the rapid urban regeneration in Shanghai. It is produced by The Type and three local photographers who have been tracking the ghost signs throughout Shanghai — Colleague Dong, Jiayu Shi and Jianwen Shen.

Colleague Dong

Born in Hengshan Road and growing up in Xuhui, Shanghai, Dong is an urban wanderer and independent researcher of Shanghai history. He is also a collector of old objects like house number signs, photos and ephemera.

Jiayu Shi

Born in 1994, he works in historical building conservation and started to document Shanghai in the midst of changes and changes in 2015, and has been taking long-term rescue photos of the life in the neighbourhood at Laoximen, a part of Shanghai’s old town in the progress of demolition.

Jiawen Shen

Journalist and editor, she edited the City Walks section of The Paper in Shanghai and has led numerous of walking events with urban enthusiasts.