Let's show the world how exciting cities can be
From their location and streetscape, we are acquainted with their appearance — this is often what leaves the deepest impression.
But cities have a life of their own. If we dig deeper, we find that they have distinct personalities — shaped by their history and culture, they are filled with hidden beauties waiting to be discovered.
At Urban Explorers, we hope to do just that. Beyond the tourist hot-spots and postcard locations, we share the unique ways we interact with cities and the unexpected stories they can tell.
The Vision
In our fast-paced modern world, we often find ourselves traveling between a small set of locations that we constantly return to: our home, school/ workplace, neighborhood shops and restaurants. Urban environments are seeming increasingly distant.
Yet urban environments are crucial. Streets and public spaces give us the opportunity to engage with our communities and promote civic life, crucial for any healthy society. Behind the surface-level stereotypes, we should serve the nuance and rich heritage of cities justice by narrating stories of their concealed gems.
At Urban Explorers, we connect urban dwellers around the world to share stories about cities they are passionate about through blog posts and articles.
How to get involved
We are very excited to see how you will contribute to Urban Explorers. Before you start, here is a quick guide:
Choose your city You can write about any city you are passionate, but it should be one where you have spent a considerable amount of time and had the opportunity to explore off the beaten track. It would be great if this is the city you currently live in so you can organize tours.
Choose your theme Urban Explorers will not be like your conventional tourist guidebook. Think about your interests - whether that be history, culture, art, science, literature, film, music - and how you can explore the city through this perspective. For instance, if you love history, maybe show us some places where important events took place or famous individuals resided. If you love literature or film, you could organize a tour inspired by your favorite book or movie.
Choose your format You are free to create articles (writing with photos), graphics (original art, maps), short films, audio recordings. If you want to try something else, just ask! Use whichever format you think will be most effective in communicating your point.
Produce your work As you are producing your work, here are a few questions to keep in mind: - Is your work demonstrating how you engage with the city? Does it illustrate your interests and passions? - Is your work showing parts of the city that you might not find on a conventional tourist guide? Are you showing us places that the usual tourist wouldn't know about? - Are you telling a story? If you are writing about different locations, can you link them together in some way?
Submit your work Feel free to send your work to my email: michael.gan0907@hotmail.com
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