President Xi visits hutong on smoggy day

Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Nanluoguxiang, a narrow "hutong" or alley just east of the Drum and Bell Towers in Beijing on Feb. 25, 2014. [Photo: Sina Weibo]

Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Nanluoguxiang, a narrow "hutong" or alley just east of the Drum and Bell Towers in Beijing on Feb. 25, 2014.

Dating back about one thousand years, these neighborhoods of narrow, twisting hutongs (alleys) represent the "real life" of Beijing, where passageways connect to courtyards of traditional compact homes.

Nanluogu Xiang (South Gong and Drum Lane, Nanluogu Alley) is among one of the oldest hutongs around and has a history of over 800 years. This 800-meter long North-South alleyway is filled with bars, cafes, restaurants, artsy little shops, souvenir shops and cute boutiques.

Source:http://en.ce.cn