This book documents the historical textual remnants briefly revealed on Shanghai streets during urban renewal as old signboards were removed, considered a "city archaeology" photographic archive.
It features over 170 instances of "hidden characters" photographed by three photographers, Gridong, Shi Jiayu, and Shen Jianwen, over many years. These texts were typically painted or carved directly onto building walls and then covered by later generations with new signboards. As construction progresses, these texts are briefly exposed, only to be repainted or demolished along with the buildings.
