China Academy of Art (Xiangshan Campus)

The China Academy of Art's Xiangshan Campus (2002-2007) was designed by Wang Shu — the first Chinese architect to win the Pritzker Prize (2012). The 22 buildings are made of recycled bricks, tiles, and roof shingles salvaged from demolished traditional Chinese villages (1.5 million pieces total), creating a campus that visually references centuries-old village architecture while being thoroughly contemporary. Free public access weekdays (campus visitor sign-in at the south gate); architecture students still actively use it. Pairs with the New Bund Art Museum (¥100) for an architecture day. 30 min taxi from West Lake. Skip if not architecture-interested; absolute pilgrimage if you are.