Hutong, the ancient city alleys or lanes typical in Beijing, run into the several thousands, spreading over every corner of the old city like blood vessels.
Surrounding the Forbidden City, many Hutongs built during the Yuan (1206-1341), Ming (1368-1628) and Qing (1644-1908) dynasties. In the prime of these dynasties the emperors, in order to establish supreme power for themselves, planned the city and arranged the residential areas according to the etiquette systems of Zhou Dynasty. The center of the city of Beijing was the royal palace -- the Forbidden City, the aristocrats and officials built houses and courtyards up to the etiquette systems and the passages between the houses with function of natural lighting, ventilation and traffic became hutong.
It was said that the word "hutong" means "water well" in the Mongolian and it was still a hundred years to go before the word "Beijing" came into being. However, the number of hutong was far less than that at present. When Qing Dynasty made Beijing its capital, the quantity of hutong skyrocketed to more than 2000. After 1949 a full-scale construction was waged in Beijing and finally formed a scale of nearly 6000 lanes and alleys in Beijing now that could be called hutong. Where is the oldest hutong in Beijing, where is the narrowest hutong in Beijing, where is the longest hutong in Beijing¡­ the issues have still attracted many curious discussions.
The name of huotng is an interesting and has endless topic, because these names have displayed the frankness, open-heartedness and humor of Beijing people, and reflected rich information of the characteristics of hutong and their history. For example, "Biandan Hutong" (meaning shoulder-pole hutong) was named after its outlook, "Gaga Hutong" reflected the old Beijing dialect, "Shouchang Hutong" (meaning longevity hutong) expressed good wishes, "Prime Minister Wen Hutong" was named to remember a hero, "Xinghuatian Hutong" (meaning apricot flower day hutong) exhibited romance, "Gouyiba Hutong" (meaning dog tail hutong) was funny, and "Rongxian Hutong" (meaning embroidery-floss hutong) showed its function.
Most hutongs are lined by quadrangles, a building complex formed by four houses around a quadrangular courtyard. The quadrangles varied in size and design according to the social status of the residents. The big quadrangles of high- ranking officials and wealthy merchants were specially built with roof beams and pillars all beautifully carved and painted, each with a front yard and back yard. However, the ordinary people's quadrangles were simply built with small gates and low houses.
Except the gate, a siheyuan usually does not have windows or passages to connect with hutong. Behind the closed gate, the house is a closed and quiet place only for a family. The Sihyuan's gate is usually at the southeastern corner according to the traditional concepts of Fengshui, Chinese geomancy. There is a screen-wall inside the gate to conceal the residence from being seen diretly from outside. It is also a manifestation of the air and character of the mater. Behind the screen-wall is the second gate of the residence. Rich people usually make the second gate a charming and decorated hanging flower gate. Into the hanging flower gate, there is the inner court. And the high and spacious house which stands at the north end and faces the south is called the "main house" where the elder generation lives; the ones on both sides are called "side houses" where the younger generation lives. The foremost "opposite house" is bedroom for servants and store space. Everything inside siheyuan is systematic and in perfect order according to the orders of age and respect.
There are endless tales and legends of hutong and siheyuan. If you want to know more, you should step into hutong to have a view of the real old Beijing.