At the beginning of the 20th century, Shanghai was considered a mecca for fortune seekers, adventurers, and those in search of refuge – and everyone found their place here. However, when the communists took power in 1949, the once "Paris of the East" fell into a deep slumber. It was only with China's resurgence since the early 1990s that the city along the Huangpu River has experienced economic growth like the world has rarely seen. Yet behind the glittering facade exists a fascinating parallel world of temples and alleys with old brick houses and traditional community life. Here, time seems to stand still: people sit in pajamas on the street, their "living room," eating rice and watching the activity around them. The blend of tradition and modernity is easily discernible in the canyons of Shanghai, a metropolis with a history of 160 years.