Beijing's ancient neighbourhoods are fast giving way to steel and glass skyscapers, but one artist is taking matters into his own hands by preserving the historic neighbourhoods on paper.

Shu Liao is a man on the mission.

For the past sixteen years, the elderly retiree has been mapping the alleyways (hutong) of Beijing.

These narrow alleyways -- called hutong -- run between ancient courtyard houses in the old imperial district.

Shu began his project when he came across a map of old Beijing dating back to the Qing Dynasty.

It inspired him to draw up a map of his own documenting how the area looks like now.

"If they (the hutong) are all torn down in the future and if you ask your grandson 'do you know what Beijing used to look like?' or 'do you know what a courtyard house is?', he won't know a thing," Shu explained.

After experimenting with a tape measure, Shu finally settled for measuring the hutong with his feet - taking down the number of steps and converting it into metres back home.

His drawings are not exact, but they are works of art

They include notes explaining each alleyway's name and other anecdotes - information he picked up chatting with hutong residents.

Shu is only about one third through though, and he will have to hurry.

Even as he tries to preserve Beijing's historic district on paper, these ancient neighbourhoods are falling victim to the wrecking ball right before his eyes.

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