Mao Zedong once called the Chinese people “a blank piece of paper on which to write any hieroglyphics.” The same was true of his treatment of Chinese cities during the Cultural Revolution. However, Mao's actions seem trifling in comparison with the policies of his followers, who abandoned all restrictions - today China is experiencing urbanization on a scale that world history has not known. In his essay, renowned sinologist Julia Lovell analyzes Chinese policy in the field of architecture and urban construction. The range of actors is wide these are Western architectural stars that flocked to China like flies for sweets, and political dissidents, such as Ai Weiwei, and rebellious residents, fearlessly singing songs, looking at the approach of bulldozers. Translation: Oksana Yakymenko