International Affairs

The Last Days of Old Beijing: Life in the Vanishing Backstreets of a City Transformed

Michael Meyer

About the Program

Michael Meyer profiles Beijing's transforming residential landscape from communal courtyards and marketplaces to Western style shopping malls and high-rises.  According to the author the old neighborhoods, a collection of interconnected courtyards known as hutongs, are being razed at an average of 600 per year.  This event was hosted by the Asia Society in New York City.

About the Authors

Michael Meyer

Michael MeyerMichael Meyer currently lives in China and has worked for the National Geographic Society's Center for Sustainable Destinations and has trained China's UNESCO World Heritage site managers in preservation. His writing has appeared in several publications, including the Financial Times, Smithsonian, and the Los Angeles Times.
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Program Information

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Past Airings

  • Sunday, June 28th at 2am (ET)
  • Saturday, June 27th at 7pm (ET)
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