In Beijing a city alley or lane is known as Hutong while in Shanghai it was called Nong.However,the Nongs in Shanghai are interlocking in radiation forms but in Beijing, the Hutongs are built crisscrossing east-west across the city and laid in chessboard patterns. In Beijing’s rich historical culture, the Hutong holds up a very special and important position. Being regarded as the encyclopedia of the history and culture of Beijing”,it is not only a kind of architecture, but also a window into Beijing’s folk life and customs.
According to research, the word “hutong” comes from the word “hottog” in Mongolian meaning “water well”. Where there was a spring or well, there were residents. The word “hottog” became “Hutong” after it was introduced into Beijing.
The establishment of Dadu(Great Capital) in the Yuan Dynasty laid a good foundation for the development of Beijing. When the Italian tourist Marco Polo came to Dadu in the 13th century, he once wrote in his diary that “In Dadu, the streets are straight with city gates standing facing each other. On both sides of the street are residences and shops. The whole city is arranged neatly like a chessboard.” But is was in the Ming Dynasty that the layout of Beijing became the predecessor of that of the city today. As the heart of city, the inner city was divided into two parts by central axis. At both the east and west sides, there formed an avenue respectively that was parallel to the central axis. These two avenues dominated the layout of Beijing’s streets and lanes, mainly running from south to north, those running from west to east being derivatives. Although the city has changed a great deal over those during the Ming and Qing times.
There are many Hutongs in Beijing. In the urban district, houses along Hutongs still occupy one third of the total area, providing housing for half the population. It is said that there are more than 6,000 Hutongs in the city, with the broadest over 4 meters wide and the narrowest mere 70 cm across, just wide enough for a single person to traverse. Many Hutongs have retained their original names since the Yuan Dynasty. Everything has been used in naming Hutongs. Some take their names from the items used in the daily life, such as Cuzhang Hutong(Vinegar Hutong). Others are named after the great nature, scenic spots and folk customs. While some have more interesting associations, such as Mahua Hutong(Fried Dough Twist Hutong) and Shaobing Hutong(Sesame Seed Cake Hutong). Daily-use utensils such as pottery pot, silver bower, rush and earpicker etc are also used as Hutong names. As for Mshidajie(Horse Market Street), Yangshidajie(Goat Market Street), Guozishi(Fruit Market), Ciqikou(Pottery Market), etc, one can understand at first glance that they are derived from trade markets. There are also many Hutongs that share common names, for example, Koudai Hutong(Pocket Hutong), Biandan Hutong(Shoulder Pole Hutong), Jing’er Hutong(Well Hutong) and Suzhou Hutong can be found everywhere. Strangers will be much bewildered by such names.
Perhaps because Hutongs were often named by unlearned common people, some of the names sound really ungainly today, so they were changed into more elegant ones with homophonous words. For example, Shikelang(Dung Beetle) was changed into Shikeliang(Ever Bright). Although it sounds almost the same, it has quite different meaning.
A visit to the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace is to view relics of ancient imperial life, yet a call to Hutongs in Beijing is to experience ordinary people’s life and customs. The Hutongs are not only the venation and communications of Beijing but also a carrier of the city’s history. With same grey walls and tiles, being same long narrow lanes, the Hutongs seem stereotyped and monotonous, but when you really get into them, touching their grew brick walls, peering at the fine-curved gate towersor blocks and smelling the fragrance of the pagoda tree stretching out from inside the wall, you will be fascinated for the scarce experience.
More Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/bravia123/BeijingHutongs
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