Let's Take a Walk Around The Block

Cool Slideshows!

Mixed in among the high rises and apartment buildings of Beijing are many old neighborhoods. These neighbors, called hutongs, are about 300 years old. A hutong is made up of many houses, shops, and small restaurants, connected by alleyways and small courtyards. They are very cozy and friendly! My hotel, the Qi Lu Hotel, is right next door to a hutong. Here are some of the things I saw when I walked through the hutong:
a dumpling shop
a tea house
a vegetable market
people walking their dogs
a man sweeping the street
crickets in small cages outside the door of a home
a bird in a cage
pots of flowers
bean vines growing across a courtyard
two petticabs ( a rickshaw attached to a bicycle)
a Honda
a little girl riding her bike to school
There are many families who have lived in the same hutong for several centuries, so families are very well known to each other in the hutong. I guess hutong pride is hard to hide!
I am thinking of all of my friends as I continue my China adventure. Let's stay in touch!