Beijing Hutongs
GALLERY UNDER CONSTRUCTION
A year in the life of a Beijing hutong
This project is underway photos will be added frequently. If you wish to support the project please contact me
Hutongs offer a glimpse of life in Beijing as it has been for centuries
A hutong is an ancient Beijing alley or lane.
Hutongs are the passages formed by lines of courtyard buildings (siheyuans) One hutong connects with another and courtyards connect with courtyards to form a block and the blocks join to form a neighbourhood. Not only residences but also ancient palaces government offices, temples,monasteries were built on the style of the courtyard, a common feature of traditional Chinese architecture.
Hutongs represent an important cultural element of Beijing. Thanks to Beijings long history and status as capital for 6 dynasties,almost all hutongs have a story to tell and some are associated with historic events
Once everywhere in Beijing courtyards and hutongs are rapidly disappearing as entire city blocks of hutongs are levelled and replaced with high rise modern buildings. Residents of the hutongs are entitled to apartments in the new buildings. Residents complain however that the traditional sense of the community and the street life of the community cannot be replaced. Some particularly historic or picturesque hutongs are being preserved and restored by the government.
For further information on Hutongs and Cultural Heritage Protection you can contact
Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Centre via the Link section on this website
.
A year in the life of a Beijing hutong
This project is underway photos will be added frequently. If you wish to support the project please contact me
Hutongs offer a glimpse of life in Beijing as it has been for centuries
A hutong is an ancient Beijing alley or lane.
Hutongs are the passages formed by lines of courtyard buildings (siheyuans) One hutong connects with another and courtyards connect with courtyards to form a block and the blocks join to form a neighbourhood. Not only residences but also ancient palaces government offices, temples,monasteries were built on the style of the courtyard, a common feature of traditional Chinese architecture.
Hutongs represent an important cultural element of Beijing. Thanks to Beijings long history and status as capital for 6 dynasties,almost all hutongs have a story to tell and some are associated with historic events
Once everywhere in Beijing courtyards and hutongs are rapidly disappearing as entire city blocks of hutongs are levelled and replaced with high rise modern buildings. Residents of the hutongs are entitled to apartments in the new buildings. Residents complain however that the traditional sense of the community and the street life of the community cannot be replaced. Some particularly historic or picturesque hutongs are being preserved and restored by the government.
For further information on Hutongs and Cultural Heritage Protection you can contact
Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Centre via the Link section on this website
.