[Hipster Duck]

It seems like the Chinese are quickly moving in the direction we did in the mid-1970s where historic neighbourhoods were seen as assets rather than liabilities.

The NY Times' has published two articles that present two faces on the gentrification of the hutongs and some of the affluent owners that have dressed them up.

I'll just post a link to these articles:

Article 1: Lost in the New Beijing: The Old Neighborhood

Article 2: In Ancient Alleyways, Modern Comforts

 

[Urban Shocker]

It's only a matter of time before some crass developer starts buying up the Hakka toulou and converting them into a chain of chic boutique hotels.

 

[urbanfan89]

It will be a terrible shame if all the organic life on the streets of China (other than tanks used to crush dissidents) were to disappear.