Hangzhou: Five waters

Water – five bodies of water, to be specific – is the main theme of the Hangzhou Pavilion. The pavilion highlights the city's streams, creeks, rivers, lakes and nearby sea. Seen from afar, the pavilion resembles an ark sailing out of the mountains and waters of Hangzhou.

With the theme "Led by the Five Waters," the pavilion displays the city's efforts to solve environmental crises. The art displays in the pavilion provide guests with a vivid picture of Hangzhou's ecological development. The pavilion is built from four old factory buildings and decorated with hexagonal bricks, giving it an otherworldly appearance.

The Hangzhou Pavilion

Macau: Pawnshop rejuvenation

The Macau Pavilion is a replica of the city's century-old Tak Seng On Pawnshop. The pavilion reveals the history of this ancient store, and explores efforts by locals to preserve and protect the pawnshop.

The restoration of Tak Seng On provides an innovative example of the successful preservation of a historic building. The restoration was government-funded and carried out by several local corporations. The renovation of the building has turned it into a museum of sorts.

The second floor of the pavilion houses a library dedicated to famed Chinese author Louis Cha (1924-), who wrote many martial arts-themed novels. The third floor serves as a teahouse.

The Macau Pavilion replicates its famous Tak Seng On Pawnshop

The third of this series on China’s urbanization process, "Jiangsu's 'Little Taipei'", will be online Saturday.