Preserving memory of Beijing hutong

When once-familiar names like Xianyukoujie and Changxiangtoutiao now exist only in memory, a group of hutong lovers take up cameras and begin to shoot these Beijing cultural heritages for future remembrance. They have recorded the glories and disgraces, rises and declines, sorrows and joys that once happened here. They are the Beijing Hutong Photographing and Recording Team.

Faithful recording of the evolution of hutong

The Beijing Hutong Photographing and Recording Team was born out of a gathering of the Old Beijing website half a year ago. Zhang Jinqi, head of the team called some hutong lovers in the website forum to record Beijing hutongs with their cameras and this received warm responses.

The oldest being 60 and youngest 20, the members are from various trades, each in charge of a responsibility and they gather during the weekend to explore the old hutongs.

Zhang Jinqi said: "There are a lot of hutong lovers in Beijing. It is a pity that they take pictures without coordination. For example, there is too much repetition and not enough efforts are made in historical investigation. All these can be made up for if there is an organization and they can shoot more hutongs. The reason we call it the photographing and recording team is because it is not just taking pictures. We also make investigations on the architectonics, history, customs and anecdotes of these hutongs, so as to leave behind as much video and audio materials as possible."

One of the four founding members of the team Wang Long said: "There were only four persons at the first time, but now we have more than 40 members. There are also three foreign experts on Chinese traditional architecture. The team will grow even stronger in the future."

According to historical records, Beijing had over 1,200 hutongs in Ming Dynasty and the number grew to more than 1,800 in Qing Dynasty and to 1,900 or so in the Republic of China (1912-1949). A count in the 1980s put the number at more than 3,000.

As economy develops and city landscape evolves, however, about 40 percent of these hutongs have disappeared. The team plans to record all the existent hutongs in Beijing and so far over 700 have been photographed in 100,000 or so pictures.

Zhang said: "only a sweeping photographing effort can faithfully and completely record the changes of the ancient capital in these years."

From knowledge, concern to responsibility and obligation

The team members have a simple sentiment for Chinese folk culture. They love hutong, shoot hutong, record hutong, go into ruptures on discovering a well-preserved hutong and feel distressed at the disappearance of a hutong. Many become "experts" on Chinese history, ancient architecture and folk custom during the photographing and recording of hutongs.

The founder of Old Beijing website Zhang Wei is no doubt the person who has made most sacrifice for Hutong. To concentrate on the website and hutong recording he gave up a job to become the full-time "keeper" of the website.

In order to ensure the resource sharing of the website, Zhang Wei has resisted pressure to turn it into a commercial one and he himself bears all the expenses. Because of this, plus there is no economic resource for the routine expenditure of the photographing team, he has been in a debt of over 10,000 yuan. He said jokingly: "when you start to love hutong you are not very far from bankruptcy."

Many anonymous netizens have donated money to him and people like Wang Long help him with the website for free. Sometimes, Zhang Wei feels he cannot continue any longer. But then he thinks all he has done is worthwhile since so many people are supporting him.

One afternoon at the end of February, the Sanjing hutong is bathing in the golden sunshine which spreads the old wooden gates with a light orange layer. The lacquer coatings on the gates have flaked away. The hutong is resonated with laughter of a group of racing children joined occasionally by pigeon whistling approaching from the sky.

Team member Liu Yangfei said: "Beijing hutongs are so beautiful. Our folk culture is extremely rich and profound. In the past only the foreigners cared about it. Now we take up the camera and record these cultural heritages. This is our obligation. Loving hutong is the responsibility of every Chinese."

By People's Daily Online