2018年CRI Beijing hutongs take brand-new look

 

Beijing's hutongs, or narrow alley¹ ways formed by residential² houses, are a symbol of traditional Chinese culture.

Now, hutongs have taken on brand-new looks, following years of renovation³.

CRI's Zhao Jianfu has more.

Jin Guomin has been running a Halal restaurant in the Xi Yan He Hutong in Beijing's Dashilanr sub-district since 1981.

With the renovation of hutongs that was rolled out several years ago, he says the living and business environment are getting better.

"I was born and raised here. I'm now 55 years old. I have a decent income. I want a better environment. Just looking at that environment fills me with joy. It is also with the times, because everyone is changing."

Located near a traditional business street, the Xi He Yan Hutong is home to more than 990 households and was once filled with disorderly construction projects and junk storage.

After five years of renovation, illegal construction has been cleared out of the narrow space, while other issues, such as disorderly electric wires and illegal division of rental⁴ space, have also been checked.

69-year-old Na Baoping, who lives in the hutong, says the changes are witnessed by every resident.

"I've lived here for almost 70 years and have witnessed the changes happening to the street. Several years ago, I saw the tubes and wires re-installed into the ground, and the roads widened, which made me very happy. Now, we feel very safe as security personnel patrol the area around the clock. The whole place is getting better."

Meanwhile, city planners have also invited experts to form a think tank that will guide them through the designing of living quarters. 

According to the director of Dashilanr sub-district office Su Hao, under the support of the think tank, the Xi He Yan Hutong has achieved success in renovating⁵ its parking and fire protection systems.

He says the space created can be used for cultural and entertainment purposes.

"A 'Lan Chuang Yuan' has been established after space was made at No. 204 of the street, which is an incubation base for unemployed⁶ personnel. At No. 206, a 'Min Yi Fang⁷' has been built for people with disabilities to showcase their art works."

As the renovation has been carried out in full swing, Beijing also seeks to preserve the capital's function and spirit.

China Railway Construction Engineering Group chief planner Zuo Yugang says that Beijing seeks to preserve the streets with history and cultural features.

"Our priority is to preserve cultural heritage. Be it a restaurant or a tube, the principle applies all the same. Every move needs to incorporate the preservation⁸ of cultural heritage."

Now the Xi He Yan Hutong is also giving a voice to the residents in the renovation process. Meetings will be held to seek recommendations from them as new plans are being made. 

For CRI, I'm Zhao Jianfu.

1 alley   

n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路

参考例句：

• We live in the same alley.我们住在同一条小巷里。
• The blind alley ended in a brick wall.这条死胡同的尽头是砖墙。

2 residential   

adj.提供住宿的；居住的；住宅的

参考例句：

• The mayor inspected the residential section of the city.市长视察了该市的住宅区。
• The residential blocks were integrated with the rest of the college.住宿区与学院其他部分结合在了一起。

3 renovation   

n.革新，整修

参考例句：

• The cinema will reopen next week after the renovation.电影院修缮后，将于下星期开业。
• The building has undergone major renovation.这座大楼已进行大整修。

4 rental   

n.租赁，出租，出租业

参考例句：

• The yearly rental of her house is 2400 yuan.她这房子年租金是2400元。
• We can organise car rental from Chicago O'Hare Airport.我们可以安排提供从芝加哥奥黑尔机场出发的租车服务。

5 renovating   

翻新，修复，整修( renovate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The increased production was largely attained by renovating old orchards and vineyards. 通过更新老果园和葡萄园，使生产大大增加。
• Renovating that house will cost you a pretty penny. 为了整修那所房子，你得花很多钱。

6 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

7 fang   

n.尖牙，犬牙

参考例句：

• Look how the bone sticks out of the flesh like a dog's fang.瞧瞧,这根骨头从肉里露出来，象一只犬牙似的。
• The green fairy's fang thrusting between his lips.绿妖精的尖牙从他的嘴唇里龇出来。

8 preservation   

n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持

参考例句：

• The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。
• The picture is in an excellent state of preservation.这幅画保存得极为完好。