Katya Knyazeva is a journalist and photographer born in Siberia. After 2 years as interpreter and event coordinator in Russia’s largest ballet theater, she moved to South Korea to pursue a master’s degree in design. This led to working as a fine arts book illustrator in Seoul and Shanghai. An interest in transitional neighborhoods led Katya into urban studies and photojournalism. Since moving to China in 2006 she has published articles on Chinese cuisine, theater, fine arts and history.

For three years Katya has been working on a photographic atlas of Shanghai’s old town (to be published in the end of 2012). This book is a comprehensive street guide and oral history of the oldest and most obscure quarter in Shanghai.

Katya has been a guest speaker for Explore Shanghai Heritage and Russian Club. While continuing her work as an illustrator and designer, she also guides Shanghai Flaneur guests and clients through Shanghai’s secret lanes, she can do that in English or Russian language.