A Shenzhen village is being transformed from a chaotic mess of illegal private buildings into a shining example of what the city hopes to be - a modern, hi-tech hub for foreign investment.
The historic fishermen's village of Yumin has been hailed for the past month in state media as an example for the rest of the city that it is possible to clear an area of illegal structures and create a space for a more co-ordinated city-wide construction plan.
The Government ruled earlier this year that all illegal private buildings constructed after March 5, 1999, had to be demolished by March 1 this year.
Illegal construction has existed in the area since Shenzhen was transformed from a fishing village into a special economic zone. As early as 1982, the State Council issued a notice to Shenzhen urging it to stop rampant illegal construction and clean up the existing chaos. But the villagers defied the crackdowns by accelerating the building process.
Many of the illegal structures are apartment buildings of more than 10 storeys that can house hundreds. Others include factory workshops owned by the village community, and also rental properties.
Twenty years of free-wheeling construction has given Shenzhen a discordant image. Modern skyscrapers and highways flanked by palm trees and green lawns clash with crowded and untidy apartment buildings.