Meritxell Yélamos, a 2025 international student from Spain, has become an unexpected ambassador for Beijing's hutong culture after choosing to reside in one of the city's iconic alleyway neighborhoods. Her decision to embrace this traditional living space offers foreign residents and travelers alike a blueprint for authentic cultural immersion.
Where History Meets Daily Life
Through morning tai chi sessions at the Temple of Heaven and evening walks near the Drum Tower, Yélamos documents how these 700-year-old lanes preserve Beijing's architectural heritage while accommodating modern urban life. Her social media posts about Tibetan-Han fusion elements at Yonghe Lama Temple have sparked renewed academic interest in the capital's multicultural layers.
Culinary Cartography
The Spanish student's gastronomic adventures – from crispy Peking duck to wintertime tanghulu – are reshaping perceptions of Beijing cuisine among overseas visitors. Food historians note her documentation provides valuable insights into the evolution of northern Chinese culinary traditions.
