Beijing continues beautification work on alleyway areas

A new round of environmental improvements for backstreets and alleys has been launched in Beijing, bringing new life to the city as well as a wide range of improvements for residents.

Since 2017, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Urban Management, together with the Capital Civilization Office, the Beijing Municipal Commission of Planning and Natural Resources and other units, has organized districts to carry out two rounds of renovations for backstreets and alleys over six years, with each round taking three years. As a result, the condition of these thoroughfares has greatly improved.

This year, Beijing formulated the "Three-year Action Plan for Deepening the Refined Environmental Governance of Backstreets and Alleys", which specifies from 2023 to 2025 the city will complete renovations for 5,393 of these passages.

In 2023, the city also plans to improve 1,620 backstreets and alleys, with roughly half of the process completed. Each district has established a ledger to ensure the task is completed up to standards and on schedule.

Hutong, or alleyways, have become an important carrier of Beijing's culture and history, as well as a social place for citizens to gather and interact.

During the beautification work, conscious effort has been made to avoid altering the characteristic features of hutong areas, said Gao Honglei, director of the Chaoyangmen Street Office in Dongcheng district.

The community is also doing its part to preserve the areas' historic culture.

According to Gao, No 27 Neiwubu street has successfully been transformed from offices into a public cultural space integrating art, culture, sports and other lifestyle activities. More than 100 themed events have been held there, serving nearly 1,000 people.