Actually we didn't even spend two full hours in Christchurch before flying to Melbourne, Australia. The reason for the short walking tour was that after the multi disastrous earthquakes in 2011, Christchurch suffered heavy damage. The ongoing reconstruction may make the city look too depressing to the tourists.

The 19th Century Christchurch Cathedral was severely destroyed, and as the fate of the remaining part of it was still between arguments, a transitional cathedral began to rise from ruins to offer people a temporary replacement for at least 50 years till a permanent cathedral is finished. It's called the Cardboard Cathedral because it was built with timber, steel and 96 cardboard tubes that coated with waterproof polyurethane and flame retardants and were reinforced with laminated wood beams. The walls were made from 8 shipping containers. The whole structure is also earthquake-proof. It can seat 700 people inside.

The Cardboard Cathedral was designed by the Japanese architect Shigeru Ban who is renowned for efficiently using fugitive materials including paper and cardboard in his disaster-relief projects and recyclable structure. He has volunteered to build thousands of immediate shelters for the victims of earthquakes, hurricane and tsunamis (current project is Nepal earthquake). In addition to provide them with a place to live, his has strong sense of responsibility to uplift their spirit as well. This outstanding transitional Cardboard Cathedral has made Shigeru Ban the 2014 Pritzker Prize Laureate.

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