Local Colour

One of Beijing’s lesser-known historical attractions are its Hutongs surrounding the Forbidden City which I visited (when lost) on my way to Beihai Park. These fascinating ancient residential areas are made up of narrow alleyways with traditional buildings arranged in closely packed quadrangles. As if looking through a window onto a lost world you get the feeling of stepping back in time here (even the locals look authentically old!), but still within sight of the icons of modernity that dominate Beijing’s skyline.

Unfortunately, many Hutongs are being systematically destroyed but luckily some are now designated protected areas. Still, as seems to be the general case in China: Out with the old, in with the new…