I wish I’d had more time to wander around the Hutongs nearby the Temple of Earth and the Lama Temple. A sense of serenity pervades them that instantly transports you away from the constant raw of the Beijing traffic and the frenetic pace of city life.
Of course, it’s very easy to romanticize about the past. But if I was ever given the choice of living in a luxury apartment block or a small courtyard house in a Hutong, I know which one I’d opt for.
