Feature：Hutongs in Beijing Ⅰ

Hutong,is one of the features of ancient Beijing.In this chapter,Beijing's oldest commercial street Dazhalan,which is a famous Beijing Hutong will show its vitalities to you all.

                                             

                                                       Chapter One

       Dazhalan in Beijing: Mellowing with Time


Da Zha Lan, also pronounced Da Sha Lanr by Beijing Locals, is another famous Beijing Hutong. It is a 266-meter (291 yards) long commercial street with a history of 500 years, appeared in the Yuan Dynasty, built in the Ming Dynasty, and developed in the Qing Dynasty, it is said that this hutong was originally named Lang Fang Si Tiao.

During the Qing Dynasty, the government built big fences on each of the streets to prevent thieves and robbers during the night. The fence on Lang Fang Si Tiao was much bigger and was preserved longer, so the name of the Hutong was gradually changed to Da Zha Lan which means a big fence.

After more than 500 years of development, the lane has gradually turned into a commercial street with high-rising stores on both sides. Some doggerel verses, such as “If you want to see some playthings, go to Tianqiao”; “If you want to buy something, go to Dazhalan,” and “Majuyuan on head, Neiliansheng on feet, Badaxiang over body, and Sidaheng around waist”, well depict the status and prosperous scene of Dazhalan in old Bejing.

Thankfully, many of the specialty shops still exist. For example, the old Juyuan Hat Shop, now called the Dongsheng Hat Shop, opened in 1811 and specialized in producing official's hats and satin boots for the nobility; and the famous Ruifuxiang Satin, Silk and Fur Shop, which opened in 1893. There are also the Neiliansheng Shoemaker's and the Nanyufeng Tobacco Shop, both more than 100 years old. The Xinrong General Store has a history of 80 years. 

Nowadays, everything has changed except for the hustle and bustle on Dazhalan Street. With the removal of feudal dross, Dazhalan has begun to take on a strong commercial atmosphere. Many century-old shops, such as Tongrentang Drug Store, Zhang Yiyuan Teashop, Changchuntang Drug Store, and Yueshengzhai Prepared-meat Shop, have made changes to their shops. Besides, many local snacks have also come to the area, forming a new style of dietary culture.

1. Tongrentang

Tongrentang

Established in 1669, Tongrentang is China’s most famous purveyor of traditional Chinese medicine which having supplied medicinal herbs to the imperial court, was later appointed to make up prescriptions for the emperor. This most famous traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy in China opened its first store on the site at which it now stands in 1702 – 73 years.

Tongrentang’s motto may concern some: “that no outsider witnesses the manufacturing process and our sincerity and trustworthiness are left to God’s judgment”, but it has a long history of expertise. Today it sells all manner of herbs, ‘healing’ creatures and drinkable cures, but be sure to have a consultation with a TCM practitioner before you start buying.

2. Ruifuxiang

Ruifuxiang

Ruifuxiang is the oldest and the most reputable silk shop in Beijing. Founded in 1893 by the Meng family, Ruifuxiang has a prestigious past and was entrusted with making the first flag of the People’s Republic. 

As one of the top brands engaged in the trade of silk fabric in Beijing, Ruifuxiang sells a complete line of silk products, including high-class silk and satins as well as coarse cloth and muslin, colorful cloth and cotton print. Tailored clothing is available as well. The store is always piled high with the best materials in the most beautiful prints. 

3. Neiliansheng shoes

Neiliansheng shoes

Founded during the Qing Dynasty, the Neiliansheng Shoes shop bears an auspicious name which means, “Unstopped promotions in official ranks” in Chinese. People love Neiliansheng for its vast array of traditional Chinese slippers and hard-wearing shoes. –All shoes of Neiliansheng using traditional techniques employed by the store since 1853. 

4. Gao Bu Li restaurant

Gao Bu Li restaurant

The famous baozi (steamed bun) restaurant from Tianjin has one of its busiest outposts on Dashilan, constantly packed with hungry shoppers looking for a quality, time honoured delicious snack. 

Another reason for Dazhalan’s popularity was the great number of public amusements concentrated here. 

There were five large theaters, the Qingleyuan (Celebrating Happiness Playhouse), Sanqingyuan (Three Celebrations Playhouse), Guangdelou (Extensive Virtue Playhouse), Guangheyuan (Extensive Harmony Playhouse) and the Tongleyuan (Common Happiness Playhouse). 

When Qing rules made a law prohibiting "uproarious noises in the Inner City areas close to the palace," gentry and rich merchants passed through Qianmen (Front Gate or Zhengyangmen) Gate in the evenings to see plays and operas. These days, people still choose to go to these theaters to watch those old plays and listen to the melodies which will let them enjoy special relax moments.

Throughout the history of old Beijing till today, 36 stores from 11 trades are scattered in Dazhalan, attracting a daily guest-flow of 150,000-160,000, and even more on holidays and weekends. 

In China, nearly everyone knows Dazhalan, and even many foreigners have heard about it. All in all, the reason why Dazhalan still exists today in spite of its ups and downs during its 500-odd-year history lies in its own bright specialties. And it will mellow with time to show its greatness from generation to generation.

Discover Beijing Chapter Ⅵ:Beihai Park & Lama Temple

In the last article, we have talked about some very famous attractions in Beijing.But in this chapter,maybe you are not familiar with the two tourist attractions which are magnificent while with great history background.Let's show you the Beihai Park and Lama Temple in detail.

                                                       Chapter Six

 Natural Elegance & Historical Greatness of Beijing

                                                       --Beihai Park & Lama Temple

Someone may say that the real Beijing is in the streets. However, the answer is partly right. The magnificent places in Beijing are also undivided parts of the culture of old Beijing. Do you explore for places as elegant in nature while with great history background? Sometimes, those most famous places can have perfect combinations of these two. Beihai Park and Lama Temple are the two outstanding among them. 

As a lead, Beihai Park is well-known for its natural elegance and the historical greatness of Lama Temple proves its status. 

Beihai Park

Beijing’s most elegant park is built around the Bei hai, the north lake in Beijing. It is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved ancient imperial gardens in China located in the city center. 

The charms of Beihai Park include pavilions, gardens and a stunning Tibetan-style pagoda.—It is not only a classic combination of the grandiosity of the northern gardens and the refinement of the southern gardens in China, but also a perfect integration of magnificent imperial palaces and solemn religious constructions.

1. Circular City

Circular City is at the southwestern corner of Beihai Park. The city wall stands about 4.6 meters high and has a circumference of 276 meters. Among the various places to visit in the Circular City including halls, towers and pavilions, the most important construction is the Chengguang Hall which holds the extremely precious white jade statue of Buddha introduced from Burma at the end of Qing Dynasty. 

2. White Dagoba

White Dagoba

On top of the Jade Flowery Islet, the White Dagoba was built in 1651 on the former site of the Palace in the Moon where Kublai Khan received Marco Polo. Now, resting on a huge stone base, it stands 35.9 meters high and is capped by two bronze umbrella-like canopies, with 14 bronze bells hanging around them. The views of the city from atop the hill are dazzling.

3. Nine-Dragon Screen

Nine-Dragon Screen

To the northwest lies the well-known Nine-Dragon Screen, which is the only screen having nine huge dragons on both sides among the most famous three Nine-Dragon Screens in China. Even after 200 years, the Nine-Dragon Screen is still bright in color and complete in appearance, showing the high techniques of Chinese arts and crafts in ancient times.

There are nine huge coiling dragons on each side of the screen and big or small dragons in different postures decorating the two ends and the eaves, making a surprising total of 635 dragons. 

4. Five-Dragon Pavilions

To the southwest of the Nine-Dragon Screen lies the Five-Dragon Pavilions - five connected pavilions with spires and pointed upswept eaves. From a distance, they appear together like a huge dragon. 
There are many exquisite carvings and paintings on the girders and pillars of the pavilions which make the Five-Dragon Pavilions a delightful place for the royal members in ancient China to relax and appreciate the natural beauty.

Lama Temple

Lama Temple is the largest and best-preserved lamasery in Beijing. The dimension of the temple is magnificent. Decorated with delicate scrolls and massive icons, its buildings are a hybird of Tibetan, Mongolian and Han architectural styles. 

The evergreen pine and cypress trees make for a peaceful and secluded environment. The back structural layout is composed of a cluster of buildings, halls and pavilions intermingled with each other. Upturned eaves and ridges are beautifully interwoven, forming a picturesque architecture.

The 5 worship halls in Lama Temple are in a row. As a result of the ancient architecture, every element of the temple is entirely symmetrical, with main halls on a north-south axis and wing halls on both sides. The front structural layout of the temple is bright and spacious.

1. Hall of Heavenly Kings

Hall of Heavenly Kings

It contains a large statue of Maitreiya, the future Budhha with the four Heavenly Kings on the side. In the courtyard behind the hall is a pond with a bronze mandala depicting the Buddhist paradise. 

2. Hall of Harmony

It’s filled with prayer wheels and Buddhas of the Past, Present and Future, flanked by statues of 18 arhats, Buddhist "saints＂who have reached Nirvana but have returned to help others. 

3. Hall of Eternal Blessing

Hall of Eternal Blessing

It houses statues of the Buddha of Longevity and Buddha of Medicine, to who believers appeal for long lives and good health.

4. Hall of the Wheel of Law

It’s the study place for the monks and pray in the presence of a 12m-tall bronze statue of Tsong Khapa, the founder of the Yellow Hat sect. Behind this statue is a sculpture of a hill on which stand 500 arhats made of gold, silver, copper, iron and tin. 

5. Pavilion of 10,000 Blessings

Pavilion of 10,000 Blessings

It’s the last and tallest worship hall. Inside is an extraordinary statue of Buddha standing 18m-tall, with an additional 8m underground, which was carved from a single Tibetan sandalwood tree. 

After all these vividly description of Beihai Park and Lama Temple, do you have a heartbeat and eagerness to go to these two places? –Just follow your heart to experience the natural elegance and historical greatness of Beijing to get real enjoyments. 

Discover Beijing Chapter V: Wanderlust of Old Beijing

In the last article, we have talked about some Beijing dishes and snacks. I think not only Beijing dishes and snacks will attract you but also a great number of tourist attractions and historic sites.In this chapter, We will show you some mystic and historical attractions which is famous in Beijing,even in the world.
                        

                                                         Chapter Five

　　　

　　　Beijing, Beijing? Old Beijing!

　　　                        
                                      --Wanderlust of Old Beijing

Beijing is unarguably one of the most visited places in the world. Every year finds millions of people come to Beijing to see the capital of China, a fast changing metropolitan city of old and new. There are in fact a great number of tourist attractions and historic sites in Beijing. 

If you resort to a travel booklet, you can often see historical Beijing tour plans as below:

● Marvel at the scale and ingenuity of the Great Wall.
● Visit the incredible ancient Forbidden City Home to China's Emperors. 
● Visit ancient Ming Tombs and be amazed at what the emperors took with them.
● Be awed at the grandeur of the Imperial Temple of Heaven.
● Be amazed at the beauty and regality of the imperial Summer Palace.

However, those general words about these famous places in Beijing can only give you a little information or some useful travel tips. What you really need in mind are the profound and historical treasures of them which are the outstanding figures of old Beijing.

1. Great Wall: To Be a Hero

Great Wall

The incredible Great Wall of China began construction almost 2,500 years ago under the direction of one of the most notorious, short lived, and influential of China's Emperors, Qin Shihuang. The Wall was completed over a period of more than 1,000 years, perhaps due to conflicting dynastic zoning regulations and building codes, not to mention workers dying on the job.

Climbing the Great Wall is a must for you no matter how busy you are! In China, as the saying goes:" One who fails to reach the Great Wall is not a hero." The grand Great Wall is really amazing and good place to challenge. In Beijing there are mainly eight sections of the Great Wall crossing the northern part of Beijing for 600 kms. 

The eight sections are Badaling, Juyongguan, Huanghuacheng, Jiankou, Mutianyu, Gubeikou, Jinshanling, and Simatai. Most of the sections of the Great Wall in Beijing are well-preserved and mainly the relics dating from the Ming Dynasty, the time for huge construction. For the Great Wall hiking, get ready for strong footwear. For hot weather, please also prepare for sunblock, sunglasses and water. For cold days, get ready for your hat and heavy coat.

2. Forbidden City: Symbol of the Imperial

Forbidden City

The Forbidden City is the ideal place for you to begin your exploration of Beijing by opening its mysterious face. With over 9,000 rooms and over 250 acres, this large palace building was built between 1406 and 1420. It burned down and was rebuilt, sacked and renovated for times, so most of the architecture you can see today dates back to the 18th century in the Qing Dynasty. 

There are many famous spots in Forbidden City. For example, the main entry point Meridian Gate, other well-known gate is the Gate of Supreme Harmony, which opens up to a courtyard that held audiences of 100,000. The three great ceremonial halls, Hall of supreme Harmony, Hall of Middle Harmony and Hall of Preserving Harmony are also must-see spots. At the northern end of the compound is the delightful Imperial Garden with gnarled cypresses, scholars' rocks and pavilions.

3. Ming Tombs: Awe to the Imperial

Ming Tombs

Located 50 kilometers northwest of the downtown Beijing, noted as the 13 Tombs, this is the burial area of 13 out of 17 emperors of the Ming Dynasty, the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644. It was the final dynasty in China administered by ethnic Hans. The Ming Tombs is an example if the important laid upon showing proper filial piety and the self-grandeur of the emperors, many of whom begun construction ending only when they moved in.

At present there are only two tombs which have been dug and open to the public: Dingling Tomb and Changling Tomb. Changling Tomb is the first tomb to be excavated. It took two years for the digging and restoration, and was opened in 1958. Dingling has been excavated so completely that people now have to go into the burial chamber itself. However, it is a very deep climb down and people with problems of their heart or kneels are not advised to visit the underground tomb. 

4. Temple of Heaven: Pray in faith

Temple of Heaven

Built between 1409 and 1420, the Temple of Heave is one of Beijing's most impressive parks in terms of architecture, color and significance. The Temple is basically a huge communications terminal which the Emperor used to communicate directly with Heaven. Several times a year, the Emperor would come here to pray for good harvests, enough rain and other heavenly boons. The construction of the Temple is based around the number nine, the largest of the single digits, which is divine in Chinese numerology.

This temple is situated in the southern Beijing City. It has been one of the most sacred sites for the whole country for the past five centuries. It worked as sacrificial compound buildings for the Ming and Qing emperors. It boasts of the largest sacrificial place in Beijing among a few imperial altars to Heaven, Earth, the Sun, the Moon super natures. 

5. Summer Palace: Grand Imperial Garden

The Summer Palace, originally named Qingyi Yuan or the Garden of Clear Ripples, was first constructed in 1750 which was supposed to serve as a summer resort for the Empress Dowager Cixi.

Summer Palace

Regarded as the largest imperial garden in China, Beijing's Summer Palace is in fact a park-styled royal retreat extending out over 10 square miles in northwest suburban Beijing. Once a summer resort for emperors, a 290-acre partk-palace is still a retreat for visitors, who can take a rest here or wander around old pavilions, buildings, temples, bridges and the huge lake - Kunming Lake. 

Summer Palace is mainly comprised of Longevity Hill (Washoushan) and Kunming Lake. Much of the park is covered by Kunming Lake. With masterly design and artistic architecture integrating the highlight of Chinese garden arts, the Summer Palace has earned a title of "Royal Garden Museum". It is a royal garden most completely preserved with richest landscapes and large compact buildings. The Summer Palace was listed as the world cultural heritage in 1998.

The Summer Palace is a monument to classical Chinese architecture, in terms of both garden design and construction. Borrowing scenes from surrounding landscapes, it radiates not only the grandeur of an imperial garden but also the beauty of nature in seamless combination that best illustrates the guiding principle of traditional Chinese garden design: “The works of men should match the works of Heaven”.

All in all, old Beijing still have varies of old places for you explore, even you just turn around a street corner can you find out old things of Beijing that interest you deeply. 

Have you discovered something of old Beijing? Let’s share those thrill things together to fulfill our wanderlust in old Beijing.

Discover Beijing Chapter IV: A Bite of OId Beijing

In China, Folk have a saying "food to taste a priority". Beijingers also take the food as the prime necessity in their lives. There are various kinds and delicious dishes and snacks such as the wolrd-renowned dish Beijing Roast Duck. But besides the Beijing Roast Duck, do you know any others? In this chapter, we will talk about the some dishes and snacks you may have not known but which have take the important position in the food culture of Beijing.

Chapter Four

Beijing, Beijing? Old Beijing!

                                                                  --A Bite of Old Beijing

Beijing snacks have a high reputation because of its long history, various kinds, refined materials and delicious taste. Beijing snacks flavors are mainly characterized by different ethnics. Until now, there are still many restaurants that have served the local snacks for hundreds of years. Beijing snacks used to be very famous in Beijing in the old days. The kind of snacks is varied, there were approximately more than 200 of them.

Famous and outstanding old Beijing dishes and snacks are just as following, to name just a few:


Beijing Roast Duck

Beijing Roast duck is thought to be one of the most delicious dishes all over the world; most visitors coming to Beijing will never forget to have a try. Eating Peking duck is seen to be one of the two things you are absolutely supposed to do while in Beijing. 

Beijing Roast Duck

The two famous restaurants that serve Beijing Roast Duck are Bianyifang Roast Duck Restaurant and Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant, both of which have a history of over one hundred years.

There is a proper way to eat it. First, pick up a slice of duck with the help of a pair of chopsticks and dip it into the soy paste. Next, lay it on the top of a thin cake and add some bars of cucumber and shallot. Finally, wrap the stuff into a bundle with the sheet cake (a thin pancake).





Glutinous Rice Rolls with Sweet Bean Flour/Rolling donkey

Glutinous Rice Rolls with Sweet Bean Flour/Rolling donkey

Rolling donkey (Lv Da Gun) are steamed glutinous rice rolls filled with red bean paste or brown sugar that is then rolled and covered in a soybean flour crumble. Its origins can be traced to the Qing Dynasty. The cake, which has a yellowish color, is sweet and a little sticky, with a very nice bean flavor.




Stewed Pork Liver

Stewed Pork Liver

Chao gan, or stewed liver, evolved from stewed pork liver and stir-fried pork lung, both folk foods from the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The cleaned chitterlings are cut into pieces after being boiled in water. They are then stewed in mushroom soup with garlic sauce, chopped spring onion, chopped ginger and pork liver. Chicken soup and mashed garlic should be added before ready to serve. The soup is a glossy dark red and the pork liver and chitterlings are tender. Chao Gan used to be served with small dumplings, but now there is no particular way to eat it. 


Actually, long ago in old Beijing, the food service establishments were strictly stratified by the food service guild. Each category of the establishment was specifically based on its ability to provide for a particular segment of the market. The top ranking food service establishments served nobles, aristocrats, and wealthy merchants and landlords, while lower ranking food service establishments served the populace of lower financial and social status.

The different classes are listed in the following subsections.

Zhuang 

Foodservice establishments with names ending with the Chinese character Zhuang are the top ranking foodservice establishments, not only in providing foods, but also entertainment as well. The form of entertainment provided was usually Beijing opera, and foodservice establishments of this class always had long term contracts with a Beijing opera troupe to perform onsite.

Beijing Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant

Tang

Foodservice establishments with names ending with the Chinese character Tang are the second class foodservice establishments were generally evenly divided among onsite banquet hosting and catering (at customers’ homes). In terms of catering at the customers’ sites, foodservice establishments of this category often only provided dishes strictly according to their menu, and would not provide any dishes that were not on the menu, because they were generally incapable of providing dishes outside their menu according to the specific occasion.

Zhai

Foodservice establishments with names ending with the Chinese character Zhai were mainly in the business of serving different customers onsite on a walk-in basis, but a small portion of the income did come from hosting banquets made by appointment for customers who came as one group. Food service establishments of this category would also only provide the few specialty dishes they are famous for, but they would mostly bring the already cooked dishes to the location, and would only cook on locations occasionally.

Old Beijing snacks and dishes have their own bright features that they can represent the spirit of a time, a nation and generations. How can you probe into old Beijing culture without tasting all these mouth-watering cusines?

Discover Beijing Chapter III:Old Treasure, Old Fun

In this chapter, we will talk about the old treasure and old fun of Beijingers. At present, more and more old lifestyle of Beijing has been abandoned by youth. If you want to the old trace of this ancient city in China, the  the old treasure and old fun of Beijingers will be a clue for you!

Chapter Three

Beijing, Beijing? Old Beijing!
                                         --Old Treasure, Old Fun

Old and new Beijing are merged together perfectly. If you want to experience what real Beijing is, then its treasure and fun just in the daily life of Beijingers'. 

The Cartoon of Beijing Opera Roles

For Beijingers, seeing a Peking Opera show, or taking an afternoon walking along hutongs are great fun and way of relax to them. Peking Opera and hutong are familiar words to all the people who travel to Beijing. But do you really have an overall ideas of these two? --What is the quintessence of Peking Opera? Which one is the most interesting hutong to explore your own fun? 

Answers are listed below which will introduce the artistic value of Peking Opera and the funs in Liulichang Antiques Street for you.

● Splendid artistic show of Peking Opera

With its fascinating and artistic accompanying music, singing and costumes, the Peking Opera is China's national opera which gives a profound influence in China and plays a large role in Chinese culture.
Peking Opera is a synthesis of stylized action, singing, dialogue and mime, acrobatic fighting and dancing to represent a story or depict different characters and their feelings of gladness, anger, sorrow, happiness, surprise, fear and sadness. 

The singers are accompanied by orchestras made up of traditional Chinese instruments, including two-stringed fiddles erhu and jinghu, lutes, drums and gongs. Plot lines are based on famous myths, well-known stories and historical events. The characters may be loyal or treacherous, beautiful or ugly, good or bad, their images being vividly manifested.

The Role in Peking Opera 

Moreover, performers wear extensive makeup. Their whole faces are painted in bright colors. Colorful masks, inspired from ancient ceremonies and religious symbols, are done by the actors. The color of each character's face is significant as it represents the character's personality and fate. 

Therefore, understanding the colors will greatly enhance your enjoyment of the opera as it is an intricate part of the story.--Red faces represent righteousness, black denotes gallantry and heroism, blue and green signify brawn or those held in high regard by commoners, yellow and white are negative colors, often meaning cunning or a tendency to be suspicious, gold denotes deities and silver is reserved for demons or bad spirits. The make-up style indicates if a character is good or evil. 


As time goes by, more and more foreigners want to experience this great treasure of China, but the action can be hard for foreigners to follow. Now, some theaters provide English subtitles during the shows and offer abridged versions of operas. 

In addition, Several Beijing teahouses also stage scenes from famous operas interspersed with other traditional acts like magic shows, puppetry, and "cross-talk''. Viewing such performances over tea and snacks is a classic Beijing experience. Many visitors likewise enjoy displays of Chinese martial arts and acrobatics, which are regularly held in local theaters.

● Overwhelming Fun in Liulichang Antiques Street

Being endowed with so many Chinese ancient treasures, Beijing Colored Glaze Factory Culture Street (Liulichang Antiques Street) really deserves a visit to experience the Hutong culture in Beijing.--It is a symbol of traditional Chinese culture. It´s known as a treasure trove of traditional Chinese culture.

Liulichang Antiques Street

The Liulichang neighborhood spreads across both sides of Nanxinhua Jie. Scholars and artists have frequented Liulichang's art shops and bookstores for centuries. Impoverished students from the provinces would sell their books and paintings here to finance their journey home. Like the objects for sale, the neighborhood itself evokes the past since it has been restored to its early-20th century appearance.  

Walking along Liulichang Xi Jie is like strolling through a living museum, the hutong filled with shops selling antiques and antique reproductions, kites, drums, posters, Chairman Mao memorabilia, contemporary paintings and more.

On Liulichang Xi Jie, there are many oldest and the most famous shop and enterprise where you can have a glimpse of the old style and features of old Beijing.

The most famous emporium is Rongbaozhai (19 Liulichang Xi Jie), which for years has specialized in supplies for the scholar, gentleman and artist. These includes ink stones-shallow basins in which ink blocks are mixed with water-calligraphy brushes, seals, paper and scrolls. 

Then Cathay Bookshop( 57 Liulichang Xi Jie) is an exhibit of photography of pre-Revolutionary Beijing, ancient maps, old books and more. 

All the street is a good place for you find out whatever interesting souvenir of Beijing and sometimes you can really get good deal there. The Liulichang Antiques Street runs the spectrum from kitsch to truly collectible, are shadow puppets, ceramics, Peking opera masks, Buddha statues, paper lanterns, swords, opium pipes, paintings and more. 

--The real old Beijing and its great fun can't share to you in just one passage and different people have different ways to enjoy themselves. Thus, why not get general ideas from this small passage of old Beijing's treasure of Peking Opera and Old Beijing's most interesting hutong Liulichang Antiques Street and then plan for a real trip to get close to all of these fascinating funs?  

Discover Beijing Chapter II: Hutong --old Beijing's timeless best

In the last article, we have talked about the general situation of Beijing city. For better know this ancient city, today we will talk about the famous and unique Beijing architecture --Hutong.

Chapter Two

Beijing, Beijing? Old Beijing!
                                  --Hutong culture of old Beijing

Hutong --old Beijing's timeless best

As it is known to all, in Chinese history, the Forbidden City is the symbol of China's royal family, then where can you experience the real life of common people in old Beijing? The answer must be the Hutongs--it's at the root of the old Beijing people's way of life. 

Beijing City is like a boxy bean curd or a chess board with each hutong lying due north to due south or due east to due west. This sqare layout not only influences Beijinger's way of living, but also affects their thoughts and actions. 

The Hutong in Beijing ( Houhai Hutong)

If you happily wander aimlessly in hutongs, you can easily hear a deep voice shouts"Jee-dan, jee-dan, jee-dan’ (‘eggs, eggs, eggs’) ", or a methodically call out as"Da-mee… da-mee… da-mee…’ (‘rice… rice… rice…’)", or a long call of "‘Peeeeeeeeee-jyoooooohhhhhh!’ (‘beer!’), these are just those market traders cycling along the hutongs on their squeaky richshaws calling out their wares. --This old way of selling still well-preserved in old Beijing's hutongs. The calling and the old and historical environment of hutong may make you feel as though you have stepped back in time. 

● The Architecture Treasure of Hutong

Actually, the centuries-old, tree-lined alleyways of hutong are the true heartbeat of the unique city of old Beijing and a real-life link to its fascinating past. And these old hutongs are almost in the same form--old, walled courtyard homes are the building blocks of this delightful maze of lanes. More venerable abodes are fronted by thick red doors outside of which perch either a pair of lions or a pair of drum stones. 

the Gong and Drum Lane (Nanluogu Xiang) 

Carefully watch about the constructions of hutongs, you can find that hutongs nearly all run east-west so that the main gate faces south, satisfying feng shui(wind/warer) requirements. This south-facing aspect guarantees sunshine and protection from negative principles amassing in the north, then the old walled siheyuan are the building blocks of this delightful universe. 

Living conditions in the siheyuan are basic at best - a one-room family-house with a tiny shed-like kitchen-conversion and often no private toilet - but it’s this unusual mix of ancient aristocratic architecture and current-day, salt-of-the-earth locals that gives the hutong alleys their unique character.

● Old Hutong: the well-combined lifestyle

In old Beijing, People are pleased with their easy life in Siheyuan. They live a peaceful and harmonious life in these small "boxes", away from the hustle and bustle of the streets outside. Their daily needs could be fully satisfied by hawkers who sold vegetables, eggs, fruits, and snacks.

The Nightview of Siheyuan in Beijing

From spring to autumn, men collect outside their gates, drinking beer, playing chess, smoking and chewing the fat. Inside, scholar trees soar aloft, providing shade and a nesting ground for birds. Flocks of pigeons whirl through the Beijing skies overhead, bred by locals and housed in coops often buried away within the hutong.  

In the past, they could even get their hair cut by the itinerant barbers without walking out of their neighborhood to find a barber shop. The winding and narrow Hutongs were heaven for children playing games. They would have played rubber-band skipping, kicking shuttlecocks, and hide-and-seek.

Nowadays, while the rest of the city darts around in sharp suits, with a takeaway coffee in one hand and an iPhone in the other, old men sit on wooden stools at the entrance to their hundred-year-old hutong bungalows, drinking beer, playing chess and chewing the fat. The pace of life in these neighborhoods is less hurries than on Beijing's broad modern avenues. The noises less grating. The hutongs are like villages within the megalopolis. 

What really need to mention out is that the charming and ragged lanes of hutong survives a warm sense of community and hospitality. --It's cozy pace of life is what modern people strongly eager for. 

● Famous Hutongs, Strong Atmosphere of Old Beijing

The names of hutongs are all-embracing and various and relate to their location, origin or history, such as Lumicang, Fuxue, and Gongyuan hutongs, which were named by official organizations. Those examples named by craftsmen and ordinary people include: 'earthenware pot Liu (now Dashaguo) Hutong', maybe there once lived a Mr. Liu who sold earthenware pots. 
Those who were named by their market trade include Xianyu Kou Hutong (Fish street), for it once was the place where fish was sold. Some Hutongs take their name from special landmarks, such as Stone Tiger, Iron Lion and Cypress hutongs.

the Gong and Drum Lane (Nanluogu Xiang) 
It is an old lane renowned for its long history, culture, specialty stores, and distinctive foods. It is 768 meters (2,519 feet) long and 8 meters (26 feet) wide. Its north end joins East Drum Tower Avenue, and the south end is connected to East Di'anmen Avenue. 

Dongjiaominxiang

Nightview of Skewed Tobacco Pouch Street

It's located south of the National Museum of China. Once connected to Xijiaominxiang, but now divided by Tiananmen Square, it was filled with foreign embassies from 1900 onwards, hence the Western-style architecture that makes it an unusual example of hutong redevelopment, and a historically protected site.

Skewed Tobacco Pouch Street (Yandai Xiejie)
The skewed tobacco pouch street is one of the most famous in Beijing. It measures 254 yards long connecting Di'anmen Street at the east end and the junction of Xiaoshibei and Ya'er hutongs at the west end. Like a tobacco pouch, the street goes from north-east to south-west

These old and famous Hutongs carried Beijing´s history and traditional way of life. They have waited centuries´ of change in social and individual life. Today, they have become a platform of new culture and artistic innovation.

Discover Beijing Chapter I: Beijing in Old and New

Maybe you have heard of the name of Beijing or have visited this great city, but whether you know this city? If you are interesting in this city or have a plan to see this city, i hope my series -Discover Beijing will help you!

Chapter One

Beijing, Beijing? Old Beijing!
                                      --Beijing in Old and New

Old Beijing--the cultural soul of China; 
New Beijing--a international capital.

A New Look of Beijing in 21th Century

Beijing is one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China,offering China's most wonderful array of attractions and it is China's center for art and culture--it is home to some of the most stunning architectural wonders in the world. Forbidden city, the Great Wall, Summer Palace, and even the common hutongs are the great treasure of old Beijing. In short, Beijing is an exciting and dynamic city. It is the perfect place to see China's incredible ancient past and exciting present.

The Fobbiden City in Beijing, China

Moreover, Beijing's culture comes in many forms, from food to music, and from architecture to handicrafts. Eat Peking duck, visit the Temple of Heaven, meander in the old Hutongs or check out a contemporary art show and you'll discover a unique milieu of new and old that is real Beijing culture. 

Let's probe into Beijing in many prospects to experience this great city in its old and new.




● Lifestyle of Beijingers

In old days, Hutongs, which have been home to Beijing residents for centuries never fail to surprise visitors with what lies around the next corner. Beijing's Hutongs are a twisting labyrinth of alleyways and courtyard homes. People in Beijing traditionally lived in Hutongs. 

The Hutong communities are very special. Since most people have lived in the hutongs for generations, they all know each other and each hutong is like a mini community and live a rather slow paced life there--people in old and young drinking beer or tea, playing chess and talking gossip for one day's long with children finding their own funs like kick the shuttlecock and play hide and seek around the elders. 

The Old Hutong in Beijing

But in modern times, everything in Beijing seems in a rush: People rush on the way to work and rush here and there sometimes with no clear aims. The highly-developing Beijing brings people economic support, however, the dramatically change of their lifestyle make their life full of burden. People work and live in those metropolises often live in separated space where loneliness occurs and the living atmosphere become less in harmony.   

The living conditions changes make Beijing a city of contrasts now. vast neon-lit avenues coexist with narrow hutongs and futuristic structures of titanium and glass cast their shadow over ancient palaces.

Another lifestyle change shows in the different entertainment ways between old and young Beijingers. Old Beijingers tend to slow down their life pace as in the early morning, elderly people in mass heading to Beijing's parks, squares and the historical Temple of Heaven to do their morning exercises--they practicing tai chi, performing martial arts, doing Yangge (kind of dance), etc. While in the evening, they often go to leisure in the teahouse to have a peaceful night with melodious Chinese traditional songs or watch Peking Opera in the theater to enjoy the fantastic plots, exciting martial arts and acrobatics.

However, young Beijingers often can't bear the old and traditional ways of entertainment. They enjoy going to bars, night clubs, and KTV on those famous hopping night spots like San Li Tun Bar Street, Wangfujing, Xidan and so on. And many of Beijing's fashionable young ladies like to spend the evenings shopping in Beijing's many boutiques on Wangfujing Street and Xidan shopping center. Mostly, they cost money to entertain to prove that they are the modern people in some ways.
  
● Tasting Beijing

As China is opening-up to all of the world, different things strike into China. Varied kinds of food around the world can be seen in every Chinese street is a good example. And the fast food leaders KFC, Macdonald bring convenient to those busy people. In Beijing, the restaurants offer a nearly endless variety of local, regional and international cuisines which make it as one of the gourmet capitals of the world. 

The Famous Beijing Roast Duck

Nowadays, especially young people, they can't not be satisfied by Chinese food. They go around to find different kinds and tastes of food from other countries. For example, they like to go to Italy restaurant to enjoy high-standard homemade pasta and lovely meat and fish dishes; they go to the Japanese or Korean restaurant to eat dishes like sushi, sashimi, Korean pickle,etc. Foods from Indian, Tailand and so on countries are also welcomed by Beijingers. 

But old Beijing still shines with its traditional dishes. Indulge in a wonderful Peking Duck dinner is really a reward to common Beijingers themselves. If you want to experience Beijing life, don't choose to drink coffee in Starbucks but find a small teahouse to taste tea for hours as leisure. Famous old Beijing snacks and dishes like Wheaten cake boiled in meat broth, Mung bean milk, Pea Cake always make people's mouth watering. 

● Clothings Changing over times

On the streets, men are suited in polo shirts, T-shirts, or Western-style suits. Women are in colorful styles of skirts, blouses which they defined exactly as Western style, Korean style, Japan style, etc. All of the appearances almost the same like people all over the world which modern people called follow the world fashion trend. However, it's really lack of the charm of traditional Chinese clothes.

Years ago in old Beijing, men are in long gown or mandarin jacket which add the feeling of scholar to them. While women often have a ponytail or tuck their hair then wear the cheongsam(a kind of skirt, well-fit the body), which give them the appearance of good shape and elegant. --Both the clothing of men and women that time show the real glamour of China. 

● Beijing on the wheels

Once the transportations in old Beijing relied on horse and horse carriage, jinrikisha (manpower cart) or the most traditional sedan ( manpower lift-up wooden box). Travel outside is a big plan for people as all these means of transportations cost too much times. 

Rickshaw--A Special Manpower Cart in Beijing

Years past, Beijing now is a major transportation hub, with dozens of railways, roads and motorways passing through the city. It is also the destination of many international flights arriving in China. Beijing is regarded as the political, educational, and cultural center of China. How great these changes are! As people's life become high-speed up, Beijing on the wheels now bring convenient to people travel all around in shorter and shorter times. 

All in all, the city of Beijing has its unique cultural aspects that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Old Beijing is wonderful and amazing while New Beijing is fantastic and exciting.