Scattered throughout the sprawling megalopolis of modern Beijing are the almost-extinct Hutongs, pockets of the city where people live today in surroundings almost exactly as they appeared hundreds of years ago. (The oldest Hutong, Sanmiao Street, has been in the same spot for more than 900 years.) Dating to the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, Hutong streets can be as narrow as 40 centimeters wide. These fascinating historic areas, however, unfortunately occupy some of Beijing’s most coveted real estate, and are being razed at an alarming rate to make room for glossy high-rise apartment buildings. Visit soon, as the opportunity to spend a day in the twelfth century may not be around much longe
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