Today the Qianmen-Dashilar area remains as a small enclave within the greater area of Beijing, but its many surviving, twisting, irregular alleys share many stories. Areas near the southwestern end of Tieshu Byway near Xinhua South Street reminded me more of a village within a city, where pigeons with whistles attached would fly in formation overhead. It was where I could stay all day with my camera watching people push bamboo prams while schoolchildren played on three-wheel carts alongside older residents engaged in chess or card games. I felt the warmth of ordinary people, and some commented on my fascination with these scenes of everyday life.

This is the most satisfying part of street photography — the people who make this one of the most fascinating parts of old Beijing to explore, and where we will return at a later date with more stories and images of this great city.