"The idea for Jinze had been in my head since I was young, growing up in Hong Kong, " Chang explained.

WSJ: Ancient Village Rises in Shanghai; The Shock of the Old

Jinze turned out to be a bustling provincial township within the city limits, filled with grimy concrete-block housing and shabby stores.

WSJ: Ancient Village Rises in Shanghai; The Shock of the Old

He regards this involvement with the villagers of Jinze as crucial.

WSJ: Ancient Village Rises in Shanghai; The Shock of the Old

Clearly, the project at Jinze doesn't fit any neat categories.

WSJ: Ancient Village Rises in Shanghai; The Shock of the Old

Standing by the busy highway, it was easy to doubt that an idyllic art project, even one executed at the grand scale of the village at Jinze, could have an impact on the juggernaut of China's development.

WSJ: Ancient Village Rises in Shanghai; The Shock of the Old