Beijing Hutongs: A Disappearing Community

We visited the 'Hutongs' of Beijing, China with our local host Niko, to visit his grandmother, who has lived here for over 50 years. The Hutong's are a big part of Beijing's heritage and culture, and people have lived here for generations. But over recent years, with the Chinese economy booming, these once vibrant communities have changed a lot. And as many of the Hutong's were demolished to make way for new modern high-rises, or being converted in to cafes and restaurants for tourists, the people that remain and still live here have witnessed immense change. Niko grew up in this central Beijing Hutong, in the same building as his gran, but the area has changed so much over the years that he barely recognises the streets he grew up in. Join us as we explore this unique, but disappearing way of life in Beijing, China and show you what a typical house looks like.