It’s no secret that the apartments and houses in Japan are incredibly small, especially in saturated areas such as Tokyo. But even Japan’s tiny homes are no match for this extremely narrow “paper building” in Shanghai, China! How do people even live in there?!
This unique building located on Ningbo Road in Shanghai, has been raising the eyebrows of netizens recently. From the side, it looks as if the rooms are being attached on to a piece of cardboard, earning it the nickname of “paper building”.
It would have been an architectural feat if they really managed to build a paper-thin building that was safe to live in, but unfortunately (or not), the seemingly flimsy wall is in actuality a really pointy corner, and the body of the building can be seen from the other end of the block.
▼ Looks like a regular building from the other end of the block.
▼ It looks perfectly normal on the facade as well.
Hidden behind the super-slim edge of the building is an alley known as the Shitan Alley, and deep down in the dark alley is a door that leads up into the block which houses over 40 units. Even with that said, the unusual design of the building makes us wonder what on earth inspired the architect to design a building with such an extreme corner.
While the “paper building” of Shanghai was just a cleverly angled photograph of a building with a really pointy corner, the truly narrow building in Guangxi pictured below is as slim as it looks: the four-storey building is only slightly over two meters wide at both ends. Some Chinese netizens commented that this super slim building looks like a thin slab of tofu from afar.
▼ No illusionary tricks behind this one!
Although there are plenty of seemingly fragile, narrow buildings in Japan, Japanese buildings are constructed to withstand the shakes and tremors of their earthquake-prone lands. The Chinese, however, have a lackluster track record in that domain, giving cyber citizens in China cause for concerned about the safety of this building’s tenants in the case of an earthquake or typhoon.
As cool as it looks, we wouldn’t dare live in there! Would you?
Source: CRI Online
Images: Nikiita Sokuhou
New Tokyo sweets shop offers 648 different mochi ice cream dumpling combinations
Japanese rice cooker recipe gives us a tasty new way to enjoy vegetables and wieners
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
Body of missing American college student found in Kyoto mountains
Ghibli’s No Face continues to demonstrate his generous character growth by dispensing soy sauce
New Tokyo sweets shop offers 648 different mochi ice cream dumpling combinations
Japanese rice cooker recipe gives us a tasty new way to enjoy vegetables and wieners
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
Body of missing American college student found in Kyoto mountains
Ghibli’s No Face continues to demonstrate his generous character growth by dispensing soy sauce
Colour Hunting: The hot new street photography trend changing how we see Japan
Fukushima City on edge as resourceful and violent bear still not found
Japan’s cheap beef bowl chain Matsuya opens gourmet Premium Matsuya with Kobe beef…inside Matsuya
Japanese convenience store shows us how to dress for the rainy season
Godiva melts minds by releasing a new corn chocolate drink in Japan
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
Kyoto public junior high school becomes first in Japan with a hoodie school uniform
New official Ghibli anime food cookbook will teach you how to make Ponyo’s ramen and more
Starbucks Japan unveils new Frappuccino showcasing “mottainai” culture
Osaka is hosting a “hentai” event, but it’s probably not what you think
What’s it like to join Tokyo’s walking-and-talking-with-strangers club for a day?
Tokyo’s Pokémon Cafe reopens this month with brand-new sweets and Pikachu show
Tourists brave Typhoon Jangmi to queue at two famous sites in Tokyo
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Colour Hunting: The hot new street photography trend changing how we see Japan
Fukushima City on edge as resourceful and violent bear still not found
Japan’s cheap beef bowl chain Matsuya opens gourmet Premium Matsuya with Kobe beef…inside Matsuya
Japanese convenience store shows us how to dress for the rainy season
Godiva melts minds by releasing a new corn chocolate drink in Japan
What’s it like to join Tokyo’s walking-and-talking-with-strangers club for a day?
Japan Railways partners with Overwatch, heroes hit the Shinkansen for bullet train collaboration
Studio Ghibli adds new range of neckties to its anime merchandise store in Japan
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
Lawson opens a new mini supermarket, and the lucky bags can essentially stock your kitchen
Order a cocktail, support a senior with Shinjuku Day Service Mojito at a handful of businesses
Japanese high school closes its cafeteria, replaces it with a 7-Eleven convenience store
Starbucks Japan unveils new Frappuccino showcasing “mottainai” culture
Osaka is hosting a “hentai” event, but it’s probably not what you think