北京胡同英语

Beijing 's hutongs,lanes or alleys formed by lines of siheyuan (a compound with houses around a courtyard) where old Beijing residents live,witness the vicissitude of the city.The word "hutong" originates from the word "hottog" which means "well" in Mongolian.Villagers dig out a well and inhabited there.Hutong means a lane or alley,in fact the passage formed by lines of siheyuan (a compound with houses around a courtyard) where old Beijing residents live.Be care not to lost in it!It was recorded that in the Yuan a 36-meter-wide road was called a standard street,a 18-meter-wide one was a small street and a 9-meter-wide lane was named a hutong.In fact,Beijing 's hutongs are inequable ranging from 40 centimeter to 10 meter in wide.The longest has more than 20 turns.Either in east-west or north-south,Beijing 's hutongs varied as slant,half or blind hutongs" cul-de-sacs.The gray-tiled houses and deep alleys crossing with each other in identical appearance like a maze,you will find it much fun to walk through but be care not to lost yourself.