Hutong Chronicles: Zhang Jinqi - Danwei TV Hard Hat Show

The last episode of Danwei TV's Hard Hat Show was an interview with the writer Mike Meyer, who is completing a book about his experiences living in the hutong area west of Qianmen. He introduced us to a Chinese writer living in the area, Zhang Jinqi.

Zhang has recently published a book about the history of that area: The Carnal History of The Eight Big Hutongs (八大胡同的尘缘旧事, available on Chinese online retailersJoyo.com and Dangdang.com.

This episode is a brief interview with Zhang, where we find out a little more about the area's colorful and bawdy history, and get Zhang's views on restoration of historical sites in China.
Aside from writing boooks, Zhang is also organizing the online archive of historical materials about Chinese buildings and cities at MemoryOfChina.org.

This episode is also available on www.danwei.tv, where there are links to different ways to watch the video.

Credits: Shot and edited by Luke Mines, presented by Jeremy Goldkorn, music by Fernando Fidanza
http://danwei.org

Sexy Beijing is now on its own website: check the latest episodes at
http://www.sexybeijing.tv

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Beijing
• China
• hutong
• history
• preservation
• qiamen
• dazhalan
• liulichang
• architecture

[comercial1976]

@simonbread Yang Jing is from Beijing, Qing tso beer is most famous and international, they are two companies

[bdyan1]

such a shame i wont get to c alot of the hutong

[simonbread]

It is Yanjing Beer, which is a sub company of Tsingtao Beer Co. Ltd. You may find it in google.

[furiizu]

Thank you for this one. I feel this way about my hometown in the US. Developers run this country and they make me sad.

What luck to be able to find Zhang Jinqi and interview him. Thanks again. I enjoy the show.

[b9generation]

I guess you could look for Jeremy Goldkorn. He is the one in a flashy looking yellow hardhat.

[write2yibo]

so true abt this rebuilt process... my heart weeps with this. so stupid!!! like fake antiques no point!

same with gugong, everything repainted... looks brand new. that's why i prefer plcs like Shan1 Xi1.... sigh....

how to preserve the real culture.big topic. changes have to come within the governemnt.

[dbadagna]

Excellent, bittersweet. Good job. What brand of beer is he drinking?

[JayZed]

should have a caption when you said the URLs in the end.

[Jasonleenyc]

beautifully done!

[artimeis]

Good series...is there any similar program like this on youtube?