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Photographed by Stephen Wilkes
Dawning of a new age: The huge dome of Beijing's arts center hovers over the hutongs like an alien spaceship.
Image 2 of 10
Photographed by Mark Leong
Out with the old, in with the new: The hutong neighborhoods are being razed while gleaming new stores and hotels are raised.
Image 3 of 10
Photographed by Mark Leong
Chipping away at the past: A wall of China comes tumbling down.
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Photographed by Mark Leong
Endangered habitat: The Liu family noodle shop.
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Photographed by Mark Leong
A curio-filled stall that will be marked for extinction.
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Photographed by Mark Leong
Student Liu Yuezhang and her father with
their prized pigeons. They live in the same
centuries-old hutong neighborhood as the author.
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Photographed by Mark Leong
A man on an electric bike -- a big trend in Beijing (mopeds aren't allowed). The man is carting a case of empty Yanjing beer bottles to return them for the deposit. Everything is recycled! The dog is a clear sign of another growing trend in the neighborhood: As disposable income rises, so does pet ownership.
Image 8 of 10
Photographed by Mark Leong
Students at Coal Lane Elementary school. The buildings here were hastily erected following the 1976 earthquake. Notice the simple brick, rather than courtyard grandeur.
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Photographed by Mark Leong
The new Wal-Mart landed like a spaceship, with traditional lanes and homes of hutong surrounding it. The particular lane shown here-- along with many others like it -- is marked for destruction.
Image 10 of 10
Photographed by Mark Leong
Prolong Life Street (Yanshou Jie). This neighborhood's market lane made a visiting urban planner marvel, "Everything you need for life, save for perhaps open heart surgery, is within a fifteen minute walk!"
I'M A CHINESE STUDENT AND WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS JUST THAT "HUTONG" IS A KIND OF CHINESE CONVENTIONAL CULTURE. GREAT DEVELOPMENT HAVE BEEN DONE FOR 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES,WE DO OUR BEST TO PREPARE,WELCOME ATHLETES TO CHINA.
If you only desire to catch the shadows,you'll be surounded by the shadows which sometimes show you the opposide of the things.China has been a modern country,and she puts efforts to make a better way to balance "modern" and "custom".
Chinese don't need to prove sth to the world, we are the host, so we just want our guest have a good time here. Every country has the rich and the poor, every country has the busiest street and the slum district. I believe that sometimes though we try our best, it can't conquer some people's bias. So the choice is yours.
I am a Chinese student.China has developed a lot,and quite different from the scenes these pictures show.I am sure these pictures were taken several years ago.Admittedly,China is still a developing country,but defenitely a wounderful coutry.People in China live a happy life,and I hope people all over the world could come to China and experience Chinese culture.People shouldn't judge a country only by the pictures taken by another country. Welcome to Beijing,welcome to China.
I am quite astonied by seeing the pictures .Onbody can make comments on the country you aren't familiair with it. I am a Chinese student ,and I know the truth. When our old houses have to sacrisfice to city' s construction, our government always give us money and new houses. It is fasle on these pictures. Modernization is a slow and uneven task China,is still a developing country. All the things can't be expected to be so perfect. We need time .It is an instutation on Chinese people.
Replacing REAL China & it’s citizens with Wal-Mart, malls, & McDonalds in an attempt to prove progress & increased democracy? Sad! Looks like China as usual – where the individual has no real value. Also, shouldn't travel be about seeing the beauty in & learning the value of other cultures & people different from ourselves? How can we understand & cherish differences in others if every city in every nation tries to look like AnyTown, USA – why travel if it’s all just more of the same?
IT IS EXCITING THAT CHINA GETS THE OLYMPICS BUT ALSO A REAL SAD THING FOR THE PEOPLE. I HOPE THAT COUNTRY DOES OKAY WITH ALL OF THE PRESS AND IT HELPS THEIR ECONOMY WITH THE OLYMPICS. THANKS, JOE
AH, nothing like Chinese propaganda! I'm sure all of the people forced from their homes for the new stadiums aren't smiling like the dupes in those pictures! Wake up readers digest !!