The Drum and Bell Tower Neighborhood, or Gulou as called by foreigners living in Beijing, is one of Beijing’s most culturally and historically valuable neighborhoods. Not only is it a central area of Old Beijing, but it is also protected under the Shichahai Historical and Cultural Protection Area.

It was, and remains, a central hub of Beijing – surrounded in different directions by the Forbidden City, bustling commercial areas and residential neighborhoods – all vital aspects of traditional life.

Gulou is now one of the few surviving representations of the traditional culture of Old Beijing, as more and more significant neighbourhoods like Qianmen are demolished and disappear into the past. Gulou encompasses all the essential elements of Old Beijing, both tangible and intangible, with the Drum and Bell Towers, hutongs, courtyard houses, and, importantly, its traditional residents. Each of these characteristics make the area so culturally rich, and the Drum and Bell Towers, for example, bereft of its surrounding context – the people, the hutongs – would decrease their individual historical and cultural value.

While Gulou is a vital part of Old and present Beijing, it currently has clear problems that threaten its existence. The poor quality of life of the local residents is among the most important. Generally, the complaints about the quality of life in the hutongs are bad and chaotic living environment, congested traffic and intrusive tourists.

Hutongs have degenerated because the administrators and supervisors have not maintained or taken measures to look after them. To improve this situation, the residents need to be assured that their homes won’t be demolished so they have stability, and improvements can then be made. But this will be a lengthy process. Just like the old city of Beijing was not built over a few years, this area can’t be renovated in a short time – it needs to be a careful and well considered process.