A youth's walk down the lanes of history

"What they need is access. Like me, those who were born in the 2000s are exposed to a lot of Western culture. I think it's important to deepen the understanding of our own culture and discover the beauty of Beijing."

He graduated from junior high school last year, but the investigation continues.

What he sees in Nanluoguxiang is different from the common hustle-and-bustle street views in Beijing.

Documentation on Nanluoguxiang is sparse, he says, and one way of making up for that is by drawing on oral history, the stories of people from different walks of life.

He has interviewed local residents, pedicab drivers who act as tourist guides, shop owners and experts. Many are willing to help him and give advice, including the local residents' committee.

"It's never too late to preserve Beijing's culture and traditions. If you record these vivid stories, others will be able to read it on paper and remember this part of history. Several decades later, perhaps no Beijingers will be living here."

Bai once talked with a man who used to trade in goods such as clothes between China and Russia in the 1980s and 1990s, when China was moving from a planned economy to a market economy. The man made a living away from home but eventually returned to his hometown.

According to Bai, commercialization in Nanluoguxiang has affected local Beijingers' lifestyles and prevented tourists from experiencing traditional Beijing culture.

His first impression of the area was gray bricks and walls and green plants such as ivy, when he went there when he was 3. When he was about 10, he no longer recognized the place because it was lined with colorful commercial structures, he says.

"It's changing rapidly. Shops come and go quickly due to high rent. Owners need to cut their cost to make money."

He has traveled to places such as Japan and Italy, and shops on the ancient streets there sell goods and souvenirs related to local culture, he says, but in Nanluoguxiang few shops sell goods related to Beijing.

He hopes some junior students will continue the project when he goes to university, bringing more students to the alleys.

He is also writing a book about his exploration of Nanluoguxiang, with its culture, history and various stories, to arouse the public's interest in traditional Beijing culture. He will probably do an English version, to promote it among foreigners who are interested in it.