People at a hutong in Beijing. Although Beijing is making incredibly fast forays into modernization, the true heartbeat of this ancient city still resides in its hutongs, which are today hidden behind ...

BEIJING — While the posh and extravagant Pangu Plaza, housing a “seven-star hotel” and stretching immensely over five square blocks in the shape of a dragon, is the ultra-modern face that China has ...

Along these streets, the Yuan aristocracy and high-ranking army officials, granted lands as their estates in the royal city of Beijing, started to build courtyards around the walls. These courtyards ...