Hutong
Hutong at Dashilan, Beijing
Hutong, narrow alleys
Hutong is an alley composed of traditional courtyard houses, siheyuan. The communities are being formed by the union of several hutongs,
Since the mid-20th century, many Beijing hutongs have been demolished to build new roads and buildings. Recently, however, many hutongs have been designated as protected to preserve this aspect of Chinese cultural history.
History of hutongs
Many of these alleys were built during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. In these streets, the houses have narrow entrances and all the rooms face a square patio, the nerve center of the house. Most have a communal bathroom.
In 2000 there were more than 4,500 of these alleys that ran through old Beijing around the Forbidden City. Following Beijing's concession for the 2008 Olympic Games, the city government decided to tear down much of these old neighborhoods and build new and taller houses.
