He was not alone in witnessing the change. Zheng Enqing, 78, who has lived in the neighbourhood for over three decades, recalled the alley's former chaos: cars crammed into every available space, pedestrians squeezing past.

　　Today, the rough pavement has given way to neatly laid grey bricks, and a nearby multi-story parking facility has freed the lane for foot traffic.

　　Yet for Zheng, the most telling improvements were those shaped by residents themselves.

　　When an outdoor air-conditioning unit began blasting hot air onto his prized grapevine, he raised it with the neighbourhood committee.

　　"They listened," Zheng said, noting that this responsiveness, for him, defined the entire renewal. The unit was moved to the rooftop and screened with a structure that blends with the historic surroundings.

　　"Our goal was to improve the environment while letting residents keep their way of life," said Chen Qinghong, planning manager at Beijing DeYuan Dade Real Estate Investment Co., Ltd., the project developer.

　　Chen added that over 100 consultation meetings were held with locals before and during construction, covering everything from parking to landscaping and public facilities.

　　"Urban renewal should not ask residents to adapt to redevelopment," said Song Jingyang, an official with the Beijing Municipal Commission of Urban Management. "Rather, redevelopment should adapt to the people."

　　A LIVING COMMUNITY

　　For planners, however, upgrading the physical fabric was only the first step.

　　In 2023, Lanman Hutong introduced a voluntary relocation program, letting residents decide whether to stay or leave. Vacant courtyards were then gradually opened to businesses and cultural ventures suited to the historic district's character.