Tainamen Square represents everything of Beijing history as state capital. At its centre sits the mausoleum of Mao Zedong and around its edge the Forbidden City and Zhong Nan Hai,Start Your Errand Service With This 8 Point Checklist, but heading south away from all those grand hulks introduces a whole new aspect of the city. At the south end of the square is Qianmen and the sideline of Beijing vast urban sprawl. Unlike its sky-scraping southern cousin Shanghai, Beijing's expanse spreads horizontally outwards from the centre almost without contour. At the south end of the Tianamen square begins the vast thatch of Hutongs that are home to millions of native Beijingren. Hutongs are Beijing characteristic form of housing ?low and snug buildings constructed around a central courtyard. The word hutong came from the Mongolian word ottog? meaning water well ?signifying a place in which people gather to live. However, the design of these is very much in a traditional Chinese style. Most run east-west or north-south, the axis adjudged most appropriate in the rules of Feng Shui. Hutongs first appeared in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) after the original city was destroyed during a war. Most of the hutongs still in existence today date from the Ming (1368 - 1644) and Qing (1644 - 1911) dynasties. It is, however, still possible to find some from the Yuan Dynasty. The Zhuanta Hutong on Xisi lu in the west of the city is one such ancient hutong. References to this area have been found in dramas and stories written in the 14th century. Up until a few years ago, the South of Tiananmen square was a perfect representation of how the hutongs had been affected by growing urbanisation. Qianmen Dajie and the lanes surrounding it had become increasingly high traffic areas, used as thoroughfares by the hundreds of thousands in Beijing teeming centre. Its low, dusty avenues had been gradually ordained with the trappings of modern commercialism - Coca Cola parasols, and humming street-side refrigerators full of sweet iced tea and bottled beer. The hutongs themselves bore the scars of old age and poor maintenance. Broken windows patched with cardboard and wood pilfered from advertising displays, and original stone and wood features shattered or eroded over time. Today, following a lengthy regeneration, Qianmen Dajie is has been rid of this crude charm, replaced instead with an idealized vision of pre-liberation Beijing. The newly pedestrianized street is tidily fringed with renovated buildings, and reproductions of previously demolished stores from the early 20th century. Though neat, the new development is a mixed success. Insubstantial structures in the area have been completely destroyed, and passageways to residential streets are currently fenced off. Despite grand plans, many of the new glass fronted shops have not yet been filled ?a sign of the astronomical rents being charged. Despite a slow start, developers are still hoping to fill the vacant lots with international brands, as well as local businesses. Despite the sterility of this main thoroughfare, it will hopefully serve to attract more tourists to spend their money around the other streets of Qianmen. Heading west from Qianmen Dajie eventually leads to traditional, residential hutongs. The narrow streets offer some modest restaurants and dumpling stalls, as well as some pokey souvenir shops. In the midst of all this sits a true landmark of the early 20th century. Guanlou Theatre was constructed in 1903 by Ren Qingtai, a Chinese photographer who had been studying in Japan. Throughout decades of popularity, it became known as the home of Chinese cinema, showing hundreds thousands of domestically made works. On April 30, 1976, a fire destroyed the main viewing hall, bringing operations to a halt for more than 10 years. It wasn't until 1987 that a new cinema was completed on the site, with all the equipment imported from the United States. Though past it prime as a popular cinema, the renovated hall gives visitors an impression of what Chinese cinema was like before the dawn of the DVD! For avowed modernists, there are plenty of shops in the vicinity where it is possible to buy pirated movies, amongst other products. Continuing past the cinema will bring you into some bustling hutongs. This area houses the fantastic Far East International Youth Hostel, quiet accommodation for budget travellers. Rooms are split between a modern hotel complex and a pretty hutong courtyard opposite. Though a little more basic, and certainly chillier in the winter, the hutong is always the preferred choice. The Far East International also has a cozy bar room that looks out over the street. As a gathering point for tourists, the Far East International has a balanced style that is both appealing to visitors and in keeping with the surrounding area. This courtyard dwelling has not undergone any mass renovation, but is still clean and structurally sound. Though there are no guarantees for the future of this quarter, it is likely it will become part of future renovations. Though many are cynical as to the success of refurbishment projects such as Qianmen Dajie, it has at least served to preserve some buildings for the enjoyment of future generations of visitors. Whether the resident communities will remain here after renovation, however, is still to be determined. Whilst Qianmen Dajie is not yet proven successful, there is hope that developers will learn to preserve Hutong communities whilst improving living standards and attracting the tourist dollar so badly needed to make such projects viable. Useful addresses: Beijing Far East International Youth Hostel: No. 90 Tieshu Xiejie, Xuanwu District, 100050, Beijing Da Guanlou Theatre: 36 Dashilan, Qianmen,erotic beijing massage, 42 district :M,beijing escort?36?