Beijing Hutongs - Part 1.

Above: Hutongs are the old way of life in Beijing. I joined a group of Beijingers who wanted to record hutong culture. 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. I joined Hutong Group, only foreigner, to scout BeiQiaoWan hutong area in ZhuShiKou, in south Beijing. That hutong area goes back 300 years, to Ming Dynasty. Part of it was already smashed down.


Professionals in our Hutong Group brushed the carved door stones and wiped texts on doors for taking photos. They analyzed wooden decorations. Later they will produce reports and articles.

Left: Hutong Group 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 hutong area is not small, it is possible to get lost in there. I took photos of streets, doors, corridors and inner yards. That day was freezing cold but I managed to take 200 photos until battery was done and myself got (thoroughly) frozen.

It was dark when our Hutong Group found a restaurant. Table for 11 persons, ten dishes with local beer. Lost in a hutong, life.


-- BeijingMan

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


Above-1: Beijing Hutongs. Streets.


Above-2: Beijing Hutongs. Doors.


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


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 stones at 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 door down 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.


Above-28: Beijing Hutongs. Doors.

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

Above-30: Beijing Hutong.
Smiling Beijing hutong man continues his way.


Above-31: Beijing Hutongs. Streets.
Name: QianMen PaiChu.


Above-32: Beijing Hutongs. Streets.
Name: QianMen PaiChu


Above-33: Beijing Hutongs. Streets.


Above-34: Beijing Hutongs. Streets.


Above-35: Beijing Hutongs. Streets.


Above-36: Beijing Hutongs. Streets.


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


Above-38: Beijing Hutongs.


Above-39: Beijing Hutongs.


Above-40: Beijing Hutongs.


Above-41: Beijing Hutongs.


Above-42: Beijing Hutongs.


Above-43: Beijing Hutongs.


Above-44: Beijing Hutongs. Torn down.


Above-45: Beijing Hutongs.


Above-46: Beijing Hutongs.


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. 1,2RMB 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 a courtyard.


Above-56: Beijing Hutongs. Inside a courtyard.


Above-57: Beijing Hutongs. Inside a courtyard.


Above-58: Beijing Hutongs. Inside a courtyard.


Above-59: Beijing Hutongs. Inside a courtyard.
Extension room in courtyard.

Above-60: Beijing Hutongs. Inside a courtyard.


Above-61: Beijing Hutongs. Inside a courtyard.


Above-62: Beijing Hutongs. Inside a courtyard.
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. A shop.


Old Beijing Hutongs - The Hutong Culture
+ Interesting view into old Beijing way of life
+ Some hutong areas are not small, fun to get lost while still inside city
+ Met some hutong people: friendly and naturally curious

***** GOOD TARGET FOR PHOTOS OR GETTING LOST *****

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© BeijingMan 2022