[00:04.38]were built between the 13th and 19th centries
[00:07.40]during the Yuan,Ming and Qing Dynasties.
[00:10.60]To help them maintain control over the city,
[00:13.15]the Emperors during these periods arranged
[00:15.75]different areas of Beijing in neat blocks
[00:18.26]of houses built around courtyards.
[00:20.73]They were then able to place guards
[00:22.64]at the entrances of the various hutongs
[00:25.09]which made it easier to keep an eye
[00:26.92]on people's movements.
[00:28.50]The Emperor's home,the Forbidden City,
[00:30.73]was situated in the center of Beijing
[00:33.20]and the homes of nobles
[00:34.61]and wealthy citizens were in the hutongs
[00:36.77]closest to the royal palace.
[00:39.17]Ordinary citizens lived in the hutongs
[00:41.22]further away from the palace.
[00:42.24]
