Beijing in Transition | Beixanfeng Hutong. This traditional neighborhood in full transition is situated just South of Tiananmen Square. Its proximity to those famous grounds might well be the reason that it has not been razed to the ground yet: the usual Beijing skyscrapers, which commonly replace traditional Hutongs would all look down on Mao's thumb. This might keep the most lucrative developments at bay. Still, developers do move in, and while many residents gladly accept relocation and trade their basic houses with flats with running water and bathrooms - which old Hutongs commonly lack - others resist and prefer to stay. And some get away with it: this does not seem to be an area where houses are just leveled by a swift government decision. Interesting to note that some traditional rebuilding goes on, e.g. the building in the first photo, which is rather new.
Beixanfeng in 2009 and 2010
I made these photographs during several visits in 2009 and 2010. A brief visit in 2012 showed that large parts of the Hutong are still more or less unchanged.
But new side streets of the very popular new-old Qianmen Shopping Street are getting dangerously close to the old neighborhoods. So this series of pictures is on the best way to become, well, historic.
I made these photographs during several visits in 2009 and 2010. A brief visit in 2012 showed that large parts of the Hutong are still more or less unchanged.
But new side streets of the very popular new-old Qianmen Shopping Street are getting dangerously close to the old neighborhoods. So this series of pictures is on the best way to become, well, historic.