From Temples to Toilets: Nine Spaces in Modern Chinese Cities

5 credits · Undergraduate

Buddhist temples, Tea houses, public toilets: How did these spaces we see as natural and mundane shape people's lives in the past? This course examines nine crucial spaces in modern Chinese cities (1860-2000) through sources including maps, architectural blueprints, and photographs. We will discuss how they influenced people's ideas and practices amid non-Western societies' rapid urbanization and modernization. Students will develop their spatial history projects and explore digital methods such as GIS and 3D modeling. Chinese reading abilities not required.