Today started with a bicycle tour of the hutongs of Beijing. According to the guide, there were once 6000 hutongs (narrow alleyways where the common people live) and there are now only around 2000. The living areas have been squeezed out by development over time. Each hutong had a different flavor: elderly playing Mahjong in the square, food stalls lined with delicacies, local markets teaming with life. For lunch, we went to a courtyard home and had a meal prepared by Mrs. Wu, a local resident elected to the task by her hutong counsel. Her hospitality was a welcomed break from the bicycle.
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