Global EditionASIA 中文双语Français
China
Home / China / Society

Hutong life stands test of time in Beijing

By CHEN NAN | China Daily | Updated: 2020-11-19 07:29
Share
Share - WeChat
Lishi Hutong in Dongcheng district was home to a livestock market in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). [Photo by Wang Jing/China Daily]

Ancient areas major attractions for visitors

High-rises dominate the skyline along Chang'an Avenue and Wangfujing Street in downtown Beijing.

During the day, a stream of traffic flows along the avenue, while in Wangfujing, crowds of eager shoppers flock to numerous stores lining the pedestrian thoroughfare.

However, to the northeast of Chang'an Avenue the atmosphere is totally different, with the area home to a maze of hutong, or alleyways, and traditional gray-walled courtyards. Numerous bicycle and tricycle riders ring their bells as they make their way through the neighborhood.

The area, which covers about 1.25 square kilometers and has a population of more than 36,700, is part of the Chaoyangmen subdistrict area in Dongcheng district. Home to some of the best-known hutong in the capital, including Shijia Hutong, it brings a sense of tranquility and traditional life to an otherwise bustling city.

Situated about 200 meters north of Jinbao Street and Wangfujing, Shijia Hutong stretches for about 1 kilometer from Dongsi Nandajie in the west to Chaoyangmen Nanxiaojie in the east. It boasts some 80 courtyards, or siheyuan, with scores of residents.

A new project titled Chaoyangmen Walk, launched recently by the Chaoyangmen Subdistrict Office, the Shijia Hutong Museum and the Beijing Municipal Institute of City Planning & Design, offers guidance to visitors exploring hutong life on foot.

1 2 3 4 5 Next   >>|
Top
BACK TO THE TOP
English
Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.
License for publishing multimedia online 0108263

Registration Number: 130349
FOLLOW US