Southwest of Qianmen and Tiananmen Square in Beijing is a maze of narrow alleyways stretching from the theater and market street of Dazhalan all the way west to Liulichang, Beijing's antique and traditional Chinese art supplies street.
In the Qing Dynasty, this area was the city's commercial quarter where travelling tradesmen and local commoners who were not allowed to live in the Manchurian City (sometimes called Tartar City in English language accounts) north of Qianmen. It was also the place where Beijing opera really took off, and the area of choice for theaters, tea houses, inns, opium dens and brothels.
As Beijing prepares for the Olympics, this historic quarter's future is uncertain.
This episode of the Hard Hat Show is an interview with American writer Mike Meyer, who is living in the area and writing a book about it, to be published next year by Walker / Bloomsbury. He has been living in a small room in a communal courtyard, volunteer teaching at schools, and getting to know the community. He tells us about the history and future of the neighborhood, and the problem of preserving the area in the face of Beijing's hyperspeed urban development.
This video is also available at Danwei TV, where there are links to other ways to see the video, including an option to download the entire video as a Quicktime file.
Credits: Shot and edited by Luke Mines, presented by Jeremy Goldkorn, with music by Fernando Fidanza.
Comments & Response
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Casey Thomas (12/13/2008 9:15:20 AM)
★★★★★
i think that the beijing neighborhood is a very interesting place to live in.
Pete (8/29/2008 4:00:21 PM)
★★★★★
i like the end part of the interview a lot, the lost of the old community is the key issue.
(5/4/2008 9:23:52 PM)
Because in the same space tall complex apartments can fit more people in. That is the same reason why Americans continue to eat battery chicken, is not good for them or the chicken. The result id obvious, fat Americans are famous just like their fast food companies.
(2/27/2008 12:47:57 PM)
Well, me again. Just do not understand why Beijing cannot build something in Chinese style. Well, you know, red walls, green roof.
(2/27/2008 12:44:11 PM)
★★★★★
Wow...Yeah, I agree. Beijing should keep something for itself. Via the film, Beijing is not the city I knew anymore. Sooner or later, Beijing will be a city which has not much difference with NY, Toronto, etc. since it will covered by all the high rise buildings that are designed by the people from another country.
Ken Grey (2/6/2008 10:41:05 PM)
★★★★★
Fellow Beijingers, The 5 stars I awarded are for relevance. The stories of this happening fill my heart with sadness. The worst fears of those who lament the anticipated death of Beijinghua may emerge in the aftermath of the ongoing destruction of its birthplace!
We can all do our part to perpetuate the life of Beijing Folk Culture and Language by participating actively and enthusiastically in both!
