Chinahaspassedthefirstpropertylaw,orderingtoprotectBeijing’shundredsofcourtyards.Butcriticssay,so-called“conservation”justmeansknockingdownanoldbuildingandreplacingitwithastructureinatraditionalstyle.Forthis,MaYansong’sopinionis“Thewayisjusttobuildfakeantiques,itisnotnice.Thesehutongsattractmanytourists.Thepoor,oldresidentsareeitherlikeactorsinathemeparkortheyarekickedoutsothattherichcanbuythesehouses.ThespiritsofoldBeijingarenowdyingaway.”