For a city of 20 million people, it can often seem that Shanghai has an almost total lack of youth street culture, as defined in the West.

There's almost no graffiti except the halls of fame around M50 and precious few skaters and BMXers. There seems to be little interest in making hip-hop, battling, forming crews, getting your name up, and using the tools that kids do in the West to fight anonymity in a vast and inattentive city. Maybe Chinese kids are just too busy studying 20 hours a day and trying to pass exams.

Either way, a new series of three parties starts Thursday this week that aims to bring Shanghai's often invisible street culture to the surface. Skaters, BMXers, parkour runners, b-boys and b-girls, MCs and graffiti artists are invited down to MAO to showcase their skills and meet likeminded souls.

The organizers hope to foster the youth street culture scene in the city and provide a space for emerging talent to show the city what it's got.

China's DMC Champion hBd is DJing, so expect the best-sounding hip-hop to hit the city in a while.