Beijing, Saturday, April 4. 8:30 am to 9:30 pm A traditional Hutong family house 9:00 am. This was to be a full days itinerary, with our tour guide (Jack) explaining he was going to introduce us first to a traditional Beijing Hutong—Hutong a Mongolian word meaning “water well”— whose traditional neighborhoods and buildings date back to the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368). Once off the bus we where escorted through the tiny streets (no wider than 30 feet) by rickshaw, viewing small, bustling markets and people going about their business Although originally formed in the Yuan Dynasty, these neighborhoods developed quickly during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Initially there were roughly 29 Hutongs, then during the Ming Dynasty (1368 –1644), they increased to 1,070. In the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911), then grew to 2,076. By 1949 there were as many as 3,250 surrounding the Forbidden City. Today no more than 1,000 remain and Jack pointed out the governments commitment to preserving what remains for future generations, whilst the rest of Beijing grows at a breathtaking rate of 20% per decade and today, unofficial estimates, put the population at 21-22 million, almost the entire population of Canada. v Photography left to right: Jack our national—indomitable—guide. 31 rickshaws at the ready. A stop at the local outdoor market. Visiting a family home. Jean at the entrance of the home.
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