Hutong are a type of narrow street or alley commonly associated in Beijing in the past. Because every house is connected to the other, making it easy for local people to keep in touch with their neighbors, deep and warm. However, due to city development, a large number of Hutong have been demolished. The aboriginal people have either been demolished and moved away or rented out their houses. Without the aboriginal people, the Hutong would lose the soul. What stories this Hutong has, the newly moved residents do not know. Will its soul come back in the future? I have no idea.
Chris Yan, photographer, designer, was born in Beijing, China in 1981. After graduating from Communication University of China with a degree in art and design, he started working for a number of international advertising agencies. In 2013 he founded his own company, focusing on commercial design and art creation, and began photography. He mainly explores humanities and street photography. For the past ten years, he has been photographing in different countries and currently he lives and works in Beijing.
