As Beijing Modernizes, Historic Neighborhoods Are Under Seige

As part of the city's planned face lift for the 2008, Beijing is redeveloping large swathes of the central city, threatening many historic areas, including Qianmen, one of last intact "hutong" neighborhoods, directly south of Tiananmen Square.

Because Qianmen and other historic neighborhoods dating back to the Qing Dynasty are seen as decrepit and an eyesore by officials hoping to impress foreign visitors, the courtyard houses in the neighborhood, the vast majority without heating and indoor plumbing, have been targeted for demolition.

"Many streets and hundreds of courtyard houses have been demolished, but the neighborhood is not yet entirely gone. Scholars, preservationists and residents are trying to save what is left and have generated enough publicity to turn the situation into a political controversy. For now, though, demolition crews are still slowly moving forward."