The Hutongs

Things slowed down in early January. I took advantage of it to try to rest and to wander the streets looking for great images. The hutongs, which I once mentioned, particularly attract me with their very old authentic look. They are old neighbourhoods composed of densely packed small brick houses interlaced with narrow paths. They are a type of housing quite typical and distinctive of China however that is systematically destroyed to make ways for modernity. They are preserved or at least “renovated” (which here means destroyed and rebuilt) at a few ever rarer places. From what I can understand, Chinese people, being EXTREMELY proud, see this change in a good way since they are evidently rather poor places and thus shameful. I personally find that quite sad but it’s not for me to judge.


















































































I have not yet read much on their history but from what I’ve heard, such tendency fits the pattern. Emperors, apparently, had for habit to destroy the predecessor’s traces and historical literature in order to pass themselves as the best emperors ever. That is how that most of their heritage was forever lost and nowadays it still goes on but to build crystal towers. Talking of skyscrapers, the leaning towers of CCTV (refer to “Two Months Already”) have now firmly fused together. It’s a very impressive structure even if it is not yet completed. In time, when it will be all brightly lit, it will be without a doubt, a quite spectacular sight.

I also strolled back nearby another impressive structure, the National Stadium or commonly called The Bird’s Nest. Tourists have already started to flow towards it, either by taxi or even by bus. That’s where I met with a small group of teenagers playing yoyo with great skills.

I will leave it at that for now but much much more is on the way. I spent all week in another city on assignment for a Chinese magazine. Stay tuned!