i take umbrage at the suggestion that buildings constructed a scant 27 years ago might qualify as "old."

as a 31-year-old myself, what does that make *me*: ancient?

;-)

Let's wait and see how many years these NEW skyscrapers are gonna last.

YEAH! More particle pollution for Beijing!

I think there should be a rule that they tear down all of these Communist-era eyesores before they're allowed to touch the hutongs.

LAST?

You're joking, right? There are buildings of that age all over the CBD, just go one block north or south of Chang An Jie and you'll find loads.

isn't jeremy's low rise apartment (from where I would guess this photo was taken) much older than 27 years? Or do gentrified low rises not count? ;)

I used to live just behind jianwai street and as far a I know my old ( as in former and aged) apartment block is still there. maybe it is set too far back to be considered an eyesore.

Sure, mike and Peter. There are low-rises right across the street, but I think the building in the picture, surrounded on three sides by Soho and other monstrosities, is really much more sentimental, and that's what gets people.

The progress of urban renewal will change in time, that 27-year-old victim, together with the collective memories accompanied it, certainly will be not the last to be abandoned.

I know what you are getting at joel, but the low rise in the picture is hardly part of the nation's heritage. one low rise monstrosity from the 1970s is knocked down to be replaced by a high rise monstrosity from the 2000's. we are not talking hutong housing here. now, if they were knocking down the building where the photograph was taken, that would be a story worth feeling sentimental about, given its historical significance for many.