Beijing: What to See & Do: Architecture: Hutongs

Hutongs

Hutongs are courtyard-style housing complexes where entire extended families traditionally lived together. Conservationists say that Beijing is destroying its heritage by the wholesale razing of these backstreet gems for modern high-rise blocks. People who live in them are often glad to trade the poorly ventilated ramshackle dwellings for more comfortable abodes. The answer lies somewhere in between, modernizing the hutongs for contemporary use. It may be too late for that to happen, however, so take a hutong tour now before they’re all gone. The largest concentration is located to the north of the Forbidden City, and various companies offer cycle-rickshaw tours.