[Photo provided to China Daily]

Luo says that when she first arrived in Beijing, she felt lost and quite lonely. But as she joined the urban exploration community, she felt revived.

"When I meet friends and see the city through their eyes, I suddenly have the urge to get to know more."

For Du Tianyu, 20, urban exploration is not just about exploring, but getting a chance to see the development of a city.

While shooting a new landmark, the Galaxy SOHO in central Beijing, Du saw the old bungalows through his lens.

"From that particular angle, you see the sharp contrast between the old and the new, the growth of the city," says Du, a new energy science and engineering major at North China University of Technology.

"The city we live in might not be as simple as most of us think."