Street scenes

This is the scene on Fuxingmennie Street at 7 p.m. Sunday evening. It reminds me of the K Street corridor in Washington, only on a grander scale. The street has six automobile lanes and two wide bicycle lanes as well as broad sidewalks on both sides. The newer buildings are set back from the road and limited to, maybe, 15 stories.

The street runs as far as the eye can see in both directions, which is quite a way given the flatness of the landscape.

In some ways the mix of people doesn't look all that different from what you might see in an American city. Most are dressed casually, many carry cellphones, a few appear to be homeless.





Obviously bicycles are more in evidence.

There are hutongs (the traditional residential enclaves with narrow streets and low-rise houses built around courtyards) on the east side of the street, while the west seems to be more of a modern business and commercial district.