2 | Thursday, November 19, 2020 HONG KONG EDITION | CHINA DAILY PAGE TWO

A pair of gateway supports has been preserved at a A model of a courtyard is courtyard in Lishi Hutong displayed at the Shijia in downtown Beijing. Hutong Museum. WANG JING / CHINA DAILY WANG JING / CHINA DAILY Heritage: Preservation work stressed

Lishi Hutong in Dongcheng district was home to a livestock market in the Ming Dynasty (1368­1644). WANG JING / CHINA DAILY

From page 1 Two eucalyptus trees planted more than act as a “residential design experiment” for four decades ago in the courtyard, where the the hutong community. It examined the pos­ Liu Jingyi, 30, deputy director of the Shi­ Shijia Hutong Kindergarten was based from sibility of landscape architecture being jia Hutong Museum, said: “Hutong areas are 1958 to 2002, stand immediately inside the introduced gradually to urban regeneration major draws for visitors looking for an museum’s north entrance. in densely populated old areas of Beijing. authentic taste of the old city. We want to A total of 50 doorways to traditional “There are still many people living in bring people to these areas so that they get a courtyards are on display at the museum. hutong areas and we want to preserve the feeling for them.” According to Liu, the deputy director, they sense of identity and character,” Liu said. A Beijing native, Liu graduated from North indicate a homeowner’s position, such as China University of Technology in the city, government official, businessman or intel­ Interviews held where she majored in urban planning. lectual. Zhang Yiran, a 25­year­old Beijing She furthered her studies in the United Other displays highlight the numerous native, was born and raised in Shijia Kingdom, obtaining a master’s in urban plan­ residents of Shijia Hutong, both individu­ Hutong. In 2013, when the Shijia Hutong ning and development from the University of als and organizations, including a foreign­ Museum was being planned and he was a Reading in 2014. The following year, Liu start­ er, Count Ahlefeldt, who established the freshman majoring in history at Capital ed work at the Beijing Municipal Institute of Danish legation in Shijia Hutong in 1920. Normal University, Zhang started to inter­ City Planning & Design. One of the museum’s most distinctive fea­ view residents of the hutong to learn more Sitting on a stone bench in the afternoon tures is “Sounds of the Hutong,” situated to about the area. sun in the courtyard of Shijia Hutong No 24, the rear of the display area. One of his interviewees was actress Jin she said: “Autumn is a great time to explore Entering what appears to be a small Yaqin (1925­2016), who told Zhang many sto­ hutong areas. I’ve worked in this one for four recording studio, visitors experience the ries about the Beijing People’s Art Theater, years and I’m still enchanted by the neigh­ sounds of traditional hutong life, includ­ which was established in 1952. borhood.” ing birds tweeting from trees or cages Two years earlier, the North China Peo­ The hutong occupies an area of about and the distinctive cries of street snack ple’s Cultural Troupe was restructured as a 1,000 square meters and is home to the Shi­ sellers and knife sharpeners. comprehensive performing arts organiza­ jia Hutong Museum, where Liu began work­ Beijing’s downtown hutong were mostly Furniture on display at the Shijia Hutong Museum provide a glimpse of the area’s tion, which included opera, drama, danc­ ing in 2016. constructed in the 13th century, when the city past way of life. WANG JING / CHINA DAILY ing and orchestral music, and was The museum, which opened in November became the imperial capital during the Yuan renamed the Beijing People’s Art Theater. 2014 with funding and support from the Dynasty (1271­1368). Shijia Hutong No 56 (now No 20) became Prince’s Charities Foundation (China) and Shu Yi, former curator of the National Popular hutong walks and visits the theater workers’ dormitory. the Chaoyangmen authorities, is the first Museum of Modern Chinese Literature and Also in 1950, Lao She wrote the classic facility in Beijing established specifically to son of the novelist Lao She, is a firm advo­ Chaoyangmen Walk: Includes Shijia exhibits showcasing the history of the hutong, play Dragon Beard Ditch, which set the preserve hutong history. cate of preserving Beijing’s ancient build­ Hutong, Lishi Hutong and Yanyue Hutong, all along with artworks by local residents. foundations for the theater’s style of realism Exhibits are presented with Chinese and ings. of which have long histories and offer visitors Yanyue Hutong: Acquired its name during and was later directed by the translator and English descriptions, showcasing the histo­ “The city would lose its charm as an a glimpse of old Beijing. the Ming Dynasty, when it was home to many dramatist Jiao Juyin. ry and development of Shijia Hutong, along ancient capital if there were only modern Lishi Hutong: Formerly known as Lyushi court musicians and bands. It was also where In 1952, the Beijing People’s Art Theater with stories from residents and celebrities. buildings. It’s fortunate that some precious Hutong, it served as a livestock market in the musicians and dancers rehearsed. More than drama troupe merged with that from the The hutong has been home to a number of heritage, such as hutong and siheyuan, is Ming Dynasty (1368­1644). During the Qing 30 courtyards have been preserved well, with former Central Academy of Drama to form a well­known figures, including writers Chen being preserved, regardless of how we Dynasty (1644­1911), it was home to govern­ one of them housing a jujube tree that is more professional drama theater in Shijia Hutong Xiying (1896­1970) and Ling Shuhua (1900­ develop,” he said. ment officials Liu Yong (1720­1805) and Jing than 500 years old. Yanyue Hutong No 92 has No 56. 90), who lived in the courtyard of Shijia A tablet at the Shijia Hutong Museum Xin (1832­1907). Lishi Hutong No 127, a court­ become a scenic spot for visitors. Jin told Zhang that members of the thea­ Hutong No 24. bears an inscription written by Shu. In yard, was transformed into a museum, which ter’s older generation started their lifelong 2018, he described his hutong life in a book opened to the public in 2017 and features — CHEN NAN pursuit of art in this courtyard. Lost stories titled The Story of Hutong. This work fea­ Zhang, who teaches history at Beijing No 2 Another courtyard, Shijia Hutong No 51, is tures articles by 46 celebrities, including Middle School in Neiwubujie Street, a 10­min­ better known as the former residence of historian Ji Xianlin (1911­2009), novelist ute walk from Shijia Hutong, said, “The peo­ prominent scholar and politician Zhang Shi Tiesheng (1951­2010) and writer Bi Vibrant hutong areas, including Dashilar, Design and the Central Academy of Fine ple in Shijia Hutong I spoke to are part of Shizhao (1881­1973). After he died, the court­ Shumin, who was born in 1952. Nanluoguxiang and Wudaoying, attract thou­ Arts, combines participatory planning, history and their stories are precious.” yard was home to his daughter Zhang Hanzhi The Beijing City Master Plan (2004­20) sands of visitors in Beijing. water conservation and vertical greenery to Ma Nai, a retiree in his 70s, was born and (1935­2008), late Chairman Mao Zedong’s includes the concept of protecting the These narrow, tree­lined streets of single­ aid the overall improvement of a communi­ raised in Zhigan Hutong in the English­language tutor. Zhang’s husband, city’s hutong areas and courtyard archi­ story, gray­brick buildings are home to bars, ty. Chaoyangmen area. In 1996, he moved to Qiao Guanhua (1913­83), served as foreign tecture, focusing in particular on the upmarket craft outlets, coffee shops and res­ The Our Courtyards project, which ran Lishi Hutong, about a 15­minute walk from minister. effective preservation of original layout taurants. However, in the Chaoyangmen from 2014 to 2017 and included renovation Shijia Hutong. Over the years, many stories about Shijia and style. area, Shijia Hutong, Yanyue Hutong and work on toilets and power supplies, helped Looking back on his childhood, he said: “I Hutong have been lost, but the source of its In China’s urban planning, courtyards are Lishi Hutong are not so commercial. people from seven multi­family courtyards had lots of fun growing up in the hutong. In name is a subject for keen debate. among the main considerations for archi­ Liu said her team has devoted its efforts to improve their living conditions. summer, my grandfather took me to the Cha­ According to the museum, the name tectural conservation, as they remain an protecting and renovating courtyards and Liu said residents in hutong areas have set oyangmen old gate, where many people gath­ dates to the Shi family in the Ming Dynas­ important cultural vehicle. According to the hutong areas through projects such as the up tiny, differently shaped garden plots on ered to enjoy the cool air. ty (1368­1644). Other claims state that it website of the Beijing Municipal Institute of Micro Garden Series (2015­19). corners or in areas shared by a number of “What I love most about hutong life is the can be traced to Shi Kefa (1601­45), a well­ City Planning & Design, 1,320 hutong in the This initiative, launched with the Beijing families. These plots are cheap to run. diversity. People of different classes live known official. city have been recorded and protected. Municipal Institute of City Planning & The Our Courtyards project also aimed to together and they share the unique culture.”