New guidelines help to preserve old features

Nanluoguxiang, a popular alleyway in Beijing's Dongcheng district, was one of the first hutong in Beijing to embrace commercialism. However, it quickly became overcommercialized, and the local administration was forced to find a way of balancing commercial development and the protection of the traditional neighborhood.

Initially, tourists, particularly those from overseas, were attracted by the small stores selling local crafts, and by restaurants offering unique cuisine in the hutong, one of the best-preserved traditional neighborhoods in the Chinese capital.

However, as visitor numbers rose dramatically after 2008, the potential for profit saw more store owners selling cheap, low-quality souvenirs, while established outlets that offered traditional delicacies were replaced by stalls selling deep-fried squid and other nonlocal snacks.