Even though the city wasn't symmetrical, it promoted the development of the economy. In the inner city, all the places were designed for their functions. For instance, the Forbidden City was the court, and behind it was the market. The left side of the center was the place to worship ancestors, while the right side was for worshipping all kinds of gods. Later in the outer city free markets appeared due to the needs of the local people. Such as markets for furs, jewels, silk, hats and shoes, grain and so on. Gradually, some of these became shopping centers like Qianmen ( or the front gate ), Dongdan and Xisipailou (Xisi Archway).

However, transportation was not as convenient as today, so street peddlers emerged. They wandered from lane to lane selling various goods or providing all kinds of services. People could judge their goods from their singing or the sounds of their special instruments. At sunset, the peddlers selling food were among the first to come. The food they sold include Youzhagao, which is deep-fried twisted dough sticks, baked pan-cakes, seasoned millet mush, armen tea and so on. A little bit later, peddlers who sold vegetables of daily necessities would appear. A barber never shouts, his instrument is a big pair of scissors and an ironing stick. But now it's unusual to hear such melodious cries of sounds.

Beijing's hutongs are not only an appellation for the lanes but also a kind of architecture. It's the living environment of ordinary Beijingers. It reflects the vicissitude of society. Most of the Hutongs look almost the same with grey walls and bricks. Hutongs are a happy kind of place. There are often 4 to 10 families with an average of 20 people sharing the rooms of one courtyard compels. The main attraction of Hutong life is a friendly and interpersonal communication. Children living in one courtyard play together and grow up like one family. For the eldly, the charm comes from each other's company.

Well, is Beijing denying 700 years of its history by destroying many of its hutongs? Recently, a new style of apartment building has been built in Beijing. Even though, it has four stories, it is built in the same way of Siheyuan and it has a very traditional name: Ju'er Hutong or the Chrysanthemum Lane. People who live there enjoy the convenience of modern facilities while maintaining good relations with their neighbours.

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About Tour of Hutongs

. To the Hutong . SIHEYUAN IN BEIJING . Hutongs 1 . Hutongs 2 . Hutongs 3 . Hutongs 4 . Tea Culture . Tour Notes . Hutong Tour . Temple of Recumbent Buddha(Wofo Si) . Beijing Hutong Tour . Pictures of Hutong . Courtyard Culture . Tour of Hutongs

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