Life in a Hutong
Beijing, China 2007
The Chinese government has torn down most of these small neighborhoods, called hutong, in order to build modern apartment houses and commercial structures. Life in the hutong was the essence of Chinese life. I wanted to see for myself. I was looking for old China…
The Seamstress
In the past an extended family plus servants would occupy these courtyard homes. Now several families live in just one room or maybe two…or maybe a closet. This woman uses the courtyard as her sewing workshop.
Hutong Door
Most of the doors in the hutong were painted red and many had a sheaf of branches like this one. The color red is significant in China…I think it means happiness as well as longevity. The branches are used to sweep the doorstep…not sure.