HUTONG HOTEL

Guests at Mandarin Oriental Qianmen can experience life in a 600-year-old Beijing enclave - with some modern updates

- Karen Tee

BEIJING - Waking up to the rustle of willow branches in the wind and the cheerful chirps of sparrows in my courtyard feels like being in a classical Chinese painting.

I take a moment to savour this tranquillity made all the more extraordinary by the fact that I am situated in the heart of Beijing's vibrant inner ring, just a 10-minute stroll from the bustle of Tiananmen Square.

This peaceful atmosphere is entirely by design at Mandarin Oriental Qianmen (str.sg/mLZT), the hotel group's 10th and latest opening in China.

In a unique departure from a conventional single-building layout, the hotel comprises 42 siheyuan courtyard houses spread out within a traditional hutong residential neighbourhood.

These are a beloved urban and architectural feature that harks back to the Ming Dynasty.

Located in the Qianmen area of Beijing, the Chinese capital's Caochang neighbourhood dates back to more than 600 years ago. Its mazelike grid of court buildings - separated by narrow alleyways called hutong were once the residences of imperial inspectors, Peking opera performers and business owners, or institutions for imperial scholars.

For instance, the building that now houses the hotel's lobby was once a community hall.

While many continue to value the hutong's historical and architectural heritage, few locals actively seek out a home in these structures, preferring the conveniences of modern buildings.

To breathe new life into other traditional enclaves around Beijing, like Nanluogu Xiang and Qingfeng, their buildings were repurposed into eateries, cafes or shops selling snacks and souvenirs to tourists.