Hutong life stands test of time

A project titled Chaoyangmen Walk, launched in 2020 by the Chaoyangmen subdistrict office, the Shijia Hutong Museum and the Beijing Municipal Institute of City Planning and Design, offers a guide to visitors exploring hutong life on foot.

Take Shijia Hutong for example. It is home to the Shijia Hutong Museum, which occupies an area of some 1,000 square meters and opened in 2013 with funding and support from the Prince's Charities Foundation (China) and the Chaoyangmen authorities.

It is the first institution in Beijing established specifically to preserve hutong history.

Exhibits are presented with Chinese and English descriptions, showcasing the history and development of the alley, along with stories from residents and celebrities.

One of the museum's most distinctive features is Sounds of the Hutong, situated in the back of the display area.

Entering what appears to be a small recording studio, visitors can experience the sounds of traditional hutong life, including birds tweeting from trees or cages and the distinctive cries of street snack sellers and knife sharpeners.

Beijing's downtown hutong were mostly constructed in the 13th century, when the city became the imperial capital during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).

The Beijing City Master Plan (2004-20) includes the concept of protecting the city's hutong areas and courtyard architecture, focusing in particular on the effective preservation of the original layout and style.

Vibrant hutong areas, including Dashilar, Nanluoguxiang and Wudaoying, attract thousands of visitors in the capital. These narrow streets of single-story, gray-brick buildings are home to bars, upmarket craft outlets, cafes and restaurants.