International Office organized foreign teachers to visit the first Hutong museum in Beijing and the community museum, Shijia Hutong Museum on 3rd November. Shijia Hutong where the museum is located is one of the most famous hutongs in Beijing. It is known as "one hutong, half of China" with a history of 700 years. Shijia Hutong Museum presents the history of this hutong in a complete and unique way.
Foreign teachers visit this museum, from seven different exhibition halls including Shijia Hutong history and historical celebrities, the cradle of Beijing People's Art Theatre, the origin of modern education in China (Shijia Hutong 59), exhibition of Ling Shuhua and Chen Xiying, famous Shijia Hutong residents and Hutong memories, which gives the audiences an opportunity to have immersive journey of Beijing Hutong, feeling the unique charm of Beijing culture. In addition, foreign teachers took the Shijia Hutong Museum as the main line, learning the 15 heritage sites on the central axis of Beijing by collecting seals, while having a deep understanding in Hutong culture with its modern inheritance, and the unique charm of Chinese traditional culture in architecture and cityscape.
Steve, a foreign teacher from UK, expressed that after living and working in Beijing for more than seven years, he deeply felt the great changes in Beijing and had a deep affection for Beijing. Walking in the hutong and streets of Beijing, I saw the other side of this modern city. He is convinced that Shijia Hutong is only a representative of Beijing Hutong, and there are more hutong culture waiting for us to explore.
