An architect made these gorgeous maps of New York City subway stations
In 2010, Chan moved from Hong Kong ...
![An architect made these gorgeous maps of New York City subway stations](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-49067711%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-642187%2Fin-2010-chan-moved-from-hong-kong-.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
... to New York.
![... to New York.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49067712,width-700,height-525,imgsize-704025/-to-new-york-.jpg)
In Hong Kong, she grew up with helpful maps of subway stations, complete with numbered exits. "It's a really crazy system that helps people get to where they need to go," Chan says.
![In Hong Kong, she grew up with helpful maps of subway stations, complete with numbered exits. "It](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49067713,width-700,height-525,imgsize-622596/in-hong-kong-she-grew-up-with-helpful-maps-of-subway-stations-complete-with-numbered-exits-its-a-really-crazy-system-that-helps-people-get-to-where-they-need-to-go-chan-says-.jpg)
But in New York, there aren't any such maps, so you have to ask strangers for directions. So Chan figured she'd make her own maps.
![But in New York, there aren](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49067714,width-700,height-525,imgsize-908382/but-in-new-york-there-arent-any-such-maps-so-you-have-to-ask-strangers-for-directions-so-chan-figured-shed-make-her-own-maps-.jpg)
In June, Chan started on a "pretty rudimentary" geographic process: walking lengths of subway stations with a clipboard, pencil, and camera, counting the number of steps as she went.
![In June, Chan started on a "pretty rudimentary" geographic process: walking lengths of subway stations with a clipboard, pencil, and camera, counting the number of steps as she went.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49067715,width-700,height-525,imgsize-985661/in-june-chan-started-on-a-pretty-rudimentary-geographic-process-walking-lengths-of-subway-stations-with-a-clipboard-pencil-and-camera-counting-the-number-of-steps-as-she-went-.jpg)
She would take photos to help record-keeping, too.
![She would take photos to help record-keeping, too.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49067716,width-700,height-525,imgsize-913360/she-would-take-photos-to-help-record-keeping-too-.jpg)
The first map was Columbus Circle. Most stations take many visits to get a complete map, Chang says.
![The first map was Columbus Circle. Most stations take many visits to get a complete map, Chang says.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49067717,width-700,height-525,imgsize-204026/the-first-map-was-columbus-circle-most-stations-take-many-visits-to-get-a-complete-map-chang-says-.jpg)
The first step is walking from the entrance to the turnstile of each exit. Here's Times Square, which took two weeks.
![The first step is walking from the entrance to the turnstile of each exit. Here](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49067718,width-700,height-525,imgsize-227386/the-first-step-is-walking-from-the-entrance-to-the-turnstile-of-each-exit-heres-times-square-which-took-two-weeks-.jpg)
Then once she has the outside mapped, she makes a printout of her incomplete map, and heads through the turnstile to document the interior. Here's Herald Square.
![Then once she has the outside mapped, she makes a printout of her incomplete map, and heads through the turnstile to document the interior. Here](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49067720,width-700,height-525,imgsize-214582/then-once-she-has-the-outside-mapped-she-makes-a-printout-of-her-incomplete-map-and-heads-through-the-turnstile-to-document-the-interior-heres-herald-square-.jpg)
"After an hour, it’s exhausting," Chan says. Here's 23rd Street, which only took two days.
!["After an hour, it’s exhausting," Chan says. Here](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49067721,width-700,height-525,imgsize-143283/after-an-hour-its-exhausting-chan-says-heres-23rd-street-which-only-took-two-days-.jpg)
Union Square is the last of the maps thus far. Chan says that the reception has been mostly positive, and she'll continue the project if there's enough demand.
![Union Square is the last of the maps thus far. Chan says that the reception has been mostly positive, and she](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49067722,width-700,height-525,imgsize-211934/union-square-is-the-last-of-the-maps-thus-far-chan-says-that-the-reception-has-been-mostly-positive-and-shell-continue-the-project-if-theres-enough-demand-.jpg)
"I like to be able to explain things," Chan says. "If words cant do it, I like to draw it. People say, you could publish a book, make an app. I don't know yet. At the end of the day, I’m just a person who enjoys drawing."
!["I like to be able to explain things," Chan says. "If words cant do it, I like to draw it. People say, you could publish a book, make an app. I don](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-49067723,width-700,height-525,imgsize-49779/i-like-to-be-able-to-explain-things-chan-says-if-words-cant-do-it-i-like-to-draw-it-people-say-you-could-publish-a-book-make-an-app-i-dont-know-yet-at-the-end-of-the-day-im-just-a-person-who-enjoys-drawing-.jpg)
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