Beijing Hutongs - Part 1.

Above: Hutongs are the old way of life in Beijing. I joined a group of beijingers to record hutong culture before they get torn down. Photo gallery below.


Old Beijing Hutongs Facing Torn Down
PICTORIAL - Beijingers Cherish The Hutong Culture

Rich or poor, most ancient Beijing residents lived in hutongs. Fifty years ago Beijing had over 3000 hutongs. Recent developments have erased most of them, less than 700 is said to be left. And more will have to go.

Many people in Beijing cherish the hutong culture. They follow the change and want to record old hutongs. We went a hutong area in south Beijing, BeiQiaoWan in ZhuShiKou area. That hutong area goes back 300 years, to Ming Dynasty. Part of it was already smashed down.


Professionals in our group brushed the carved door stones and wiped texts on doors for picture taking. They analyzed wooden decorations to later publish articles.

Left: Hutong group's badge


For five hours we walked through narrow lanes, went into yards and inside courtyards. Most were empty, some still had people and cats.

BeiQiaoWan was not small. I took pictures of streets, doors, corridors and inner yards. Beijing weather was freezing cold but I managed to get 200 pictures until battery was done and myself got (thoroughly) frozen.

It was already dark when our group found a restaurant, table for 11 persons, ten dishes with local beer. Very interesting day.


BeijingMan aka Kippo

List of all BeijingMan Postings

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Pictures in this post are all taken on Sunday, December 9th 2007 in south Beijing, not far from TianAnMen Square. I used Canon 20D with EF-S 10-22mm zoom. Click to enlarge.


Above-1: Beijing Hutongs - Streets.


Above-2: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.


Above-3: Beijing Hutongs - Doors. Stones on both sides.


Above-4: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.


Above-5: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.


Above-6: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.


Above-7: Beijing Hutongs - Doors. Carved stones.


Above-8: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.


Above-9: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.


Above-10: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.


Above-11: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.


Above-12: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.


Above-13: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.


Above-14: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.


Above-15: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.


Above-16: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.


Above-17: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.


Above-18: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.


Above-19: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.
Carved stone on left and right side of the entrance. These stones often have flower or fish figures, symbols of good luck and prosperity. Some doors, instead, had texts written onto them, for same purpose.


Above-20: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.


Above-21: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.


Above-22: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.


Above-23: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.


Above-24: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.


Above-25: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.
Metal plates at down part of doors are for opening by foot.


Above-26: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.
Hole is for cat and maybe mail.


Above-27: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.
Hutong houses have electricity, cable TV connections, some had running water with water meter. I saw many modern community toilets, separate for ladies and for men, with running water, steel, relatively clean, "usable".


Above-28: Beijing Hutongs - Doors.


Above-29: Beijing hutong man, he came by 3-wheel bicycle with smile.


Above-30: Beijing hutong man continues his way.


Above-31: Beijing Hutongs - Streets. Name: Qian Men Pai Chu.


Above-32: Beijing Hutongs - Streets. Name: Qian Men Pai Chu


Above-33: Beijing Hutongs - Streets.


Above-34: Beijing Hutongs - Streets.


Above-35: Beijing Hutongs - Streets. Long and narrow.


Above-36: Beijing Hutongs - Streets.


Above-37: Beijing Hutongs - Streets.
Pigeons, they circled around the hutong area.


Above-38: Beijing Hutongs - Street corner.


Above-39: Beijing Hutongs - Street corner.


Above-40: Beijing Hutongs - Street corner.


Above-41: Beijing Hutongs - Street corner.


Above-42: Beijing Hutongs - Street corner.


Above-43: Beijing Hutongs - Street corner.


Above-44: Beijing Hutongs - Torn down.


Above-45: Beijing Hutongs - Streets.


Above-46: Beijing Hutongs - Torn down.


Above-47: Beijing Hutongs.


Above-48: Beijing Hutongs.


Above-49: Beijing Hutongs.


Above-50: Beijing Hutongs - Inside.


Above-51: Beijing Hutongs - Inside.


Above-52: Beijing Hutongs - Inside. Coal for cooking and heating. !,2RMB per piece, five needed per day during cold times.


Above-53: Beijing Hutongs - Inside a home, 2*3 meters.


Above-54: Beijing Hutongs - Inside a courtyard.


Above-55: Beijing Hutongs - Inside.


Above-56: Beijing Hutongs - Inside.


Above-57: Beijing Hutongs - Inside.


Above-58: Beijing Hutongs - Inside.


Above-59: Beijing Hutongs - Inside.
Extension room added into courtyard.


Above-60: Beijing Hutongs - Inside.


Above-61: Beijing Hutongs - Inside a courtyard.


Above-62: Beijing Hutongs - Gloves.
Beijing taxi drivers use this kind of white gloves.


Above-63: Beijing Hutongs - Life in the middle of The Middle Kingdom.


Above-64: Beijing Hutongs - Shop.


Old Beijing Hutongs - The Hutong Culture
+ Interesting views into old Beijing way of life
+ Some hutongs are big, can get lost but be still inside city
***** GOOD TARGET FOR HALF or FULL DAY PHOTO SAFARI *****

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© BeijingMan aka Kippo 2008, 2009