Expats in Beijing fall in love with hutong life

As Chinese citizens go crazy for new, ultra-modern apartments, expats are queuing to move into the traditional hutong districts.

Nowadays, modern Chinese consider hutongs and their traditional siheyuan dwellings to be uncomfortable, inconvenient and decidedly old-fashioned, whilst expats from developed countries see them through completely different eyes. For new arrivals from the developed world’s concrete jungles, the tiny streets with their hutongs hidden away amongst skyscrapers and viaducts are the real China, blocking the unending big-city noise and offering a peaceful, calm environment.

Sadly, many of the narrow, winding lanes have now been demolished in order to make way for new builds and roads, but the remainder are now under protection orders as part of the magical charm which was old Beijing. The hutongs still in place are undergoing facelifts and restorations in order to preserve their appeal to tourists and expats alike, and the traditional homes hidden behind moon gates are finding favour with the city’s expat communities, which see them as an authentic taste of traditional life in Beijing.

One expat couple moved into their siheyuan ‘courtyard house’ two years ago, and are loving the experience. Eddie grows greenery in the outdoor space, loves exploring the local area and is especially fond of the pigeons who’ve also made their homes in the hutong. The sounds of the birds at night and their circular flights in the mornings and evenings, plus the fact that they’ve been an integral part of hutong life for centuries all remind this expat couple of China’s magnificent heritage, culture and long history. For expats considering a move to China for lifestyle reasons as well as opportunities in the business world, living in a hutong district could well be the experience of a lifetime.