According to a report by the official People's Daily in January 2007, about 500 Hutongs still survived, in comparison to the more than 3,000 in early 1980s.

Local officials marked out 25 areas in the inner city in 2002 where traditional houses and alleys will be preserved, and later expanded to 33, accounting for 29 percent of the inner city.

Although real estate developers built some courtyard-styled houses, the sale goes very slow.

"Those 'fake cultural heritages' are too costly for local residents," said Xu Pingfang, 77-year-old renowned professor of archaeology and director of the China Archaeological Society, "while Beijingers are forced out and the houses are purchased by new-riches, Beijing is losing its flavor."

Hailing the strategy of protecting the city as a whole a "great breakthrough", Xu became optimistic. "Fortunately it is not too late," said the excited professor, "such 'micro-recycle' pattern preserving both the house and the people living in it deserves promoting in elsewhere of China."

Xie Chensheng, 84-year-old professor in cultural heritage protection and consultant of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, believed the measure is "practical and sensible".

"The houses are of ancient st

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