Alessandro Digaetano Photographer

Beijing is speeding up efforts to revamp centuries-old historic sites and the city's symbolic Hutong in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games..In the last ten the Hutong area was rapidly disappearing, replaced by modern apartments and stores. Siheyuan previously owned by one family became a compound occupied by many households so almost all of them deteriorated, and the conditions of the Hutong worsened..To maintain the original style of Beijing's Hutong, the city recently adopted a special policy on their environmental protection to guide restoration work. The walls and rooms of a Hutong must be painted a typical grey color and be built with traditional materials, while the layout should be maintained in its original form. Actually seems that mostly western are interested in the Hutong than the local people. *** Local Caption *** The double courtyard Hutong close the Jingshan park, north of the Forbidden City, base of a joint venture publisher company. The courtyard got very simple renew..Editorial staff meeting.