In the early morning light, Zhuan Ta Hutong comes to life. Narrow alleys glow with soft sunlight, casting long shadows across brick walls. The scent of street food mingles with the hum of daily life, such as the old bicycle carts, small courtyards and laundry swaying in the breeze.
Yue Haizhou, who has worked in the lane's management department for over two decades, enjoys walking through these lanes, witnessing the neighborhood's vibrant pulse as he has done for years.
But for Yue, a Beijing native who grew up in the hutong, this is more than just a neighborhood. "A walk through the hutong is a journey through Beijing's soul," she says. "Every step feels like a conversation with the city's heart."
