Coming Down Alert – Beihe Hutong

This rather fine building on Beihe Hutong along Beiheyan Dajie in Peking is due to come down in the next couple of weeks. It’s a shame on a couple of levels as some restoration has been done along the hutong and the building is not actually in a terrible state of repair and was indeed (according to some locals standing around last Saturday) only recently improved a bit. The only reason for its going is presumably to let a property developer have another parcel of land.The roof is not bad and the upper storey windows intact while the side and front balconies are structurally OK and the thrown up addition on the front balcony easily removed. A couple of old guys standing around told me the inside was not in bad condition and could be restored and refurbished. But it seems it won’t be – it’s coming down. Shame but, of course, not uncommon still.