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Hutongs and Courtyard Homes
Let’s talk a little bit more about hutongs in Beijing．As we explained earlier, these refer to the narrow alleyways in the older parts of Beijing that connect the四合院，the courtyard homes．The hutongs date
originally from the Yuan Dynast, although at least one hutong can be dated back to the Liao Dynasty before that，that's over 900 years ago．It is estimated that there were approximately 6000 hutongs around 1950．Recent development has changed the face of many hutongs，but often the modern streets retain their historical names．For example，Goldfish Hutong，金鱼胡同，is now a wide street and home to 5 star hotels，but it still retains its name as a hutong．Some of the most significant hutongs are now protected as cultural relics，and any modern development has to preserve the nature of the hutong．
These alleyways，the hutongs and the courtyard homes，四合院，
that they link and connect，form the physical basis for the traditional family life in Beijing．They also provide the structure for a harmonious neighbourhood．Often，several families would live together in one四合院， one courtyard home，SO the courtyard was a public space for all to share．