Zhang Yujun sits in his Hutong Zhang Beijing Folk Art Museum

 

Zhang Yujun, 47, calls himself "a diehard fan of the hutong culture in Beijing". Over the past decade, the Beijing native has invested almost all of his money, energy and wisdom into building a huge collection of toys, old articles, handicrafts, paintings and old photos of Beijing.

However, what makes this descendant of a Qing Dynasty Manchu family famous is his collection of handmade, vivid miniatures of the streets and hutong alleys in the 1920s Beijing.

People call him "Hutong Zhang" for his efforts to offer a window into old Beijing's traditional customs and local cultures at his Hutong Zhang Beijing Folk Art Museum.

The museum is located opposite the National Memorial of Chinese People's War Against Japanese Aggression near the Marco Polo Bridge (Lugou Bridge) in Wanping town of Fengtai district.

Stepping into the two-storied, old style building with upturned eaves, colorful patterns and glazed tiles, visitors will find myriad old toys, handicrafts, vintage photos and posters.

Visitors can also savor tea, traditional snacks, enjoy Peking Opera, join in shadow puppet shows, craft making and traditional games.

But the most eye-catching exhibits are rows of miniature siheyuan courtyards, buildings and old streets that measure about 100 m long.

The miniature Beijing scenes include stores selling fresh and dried fruits, candies, snacks, toys, hats, leather goods and curiosities.

They also feature temples, market places, guild houses, teahouses, monasteries, opera houses, courtyards, electrical cable posts, posters on the walls, and all manner of utensils.