Nanluoguxiang, a narrow "hutong" or alley just east of the Drum and Bell Towers in Beijing [Photo credit:  Plastered T-shirt]

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Nanluoguxiang is a narrow "hutong" or alley just east of the Drum and Bell Towers in Beijing. This 800 meter long hutong was first built during the Yuan Dynasty around the 13th to 14th century. The word "hutong" originated from the Mongol dialect, meaning "water well". Back then, wealthy courtyard houses, some owned by officials of the imperial palace, lined the hutong on both sides. Within the last few years, Nanluoguxiang has transformed itself into a busy hotspot of trendy shops, bars and restaurants. A favorite among tourists, locals, expats, and aspiring actors from the adjacent China Central Drama Academy.
 
This weekend, September 15th and 16th, the alley will be especially packed for the Nanluoguxiang Performance Festival. There will be activities all day long including traditional Chinese dancing, storytelling, art exhibitions, and live music.
 
A group of local restaurant and shop owners have been working for months with the local Chinese government to put on the festival. But one person in particular has been very busy. Dominic Johnson-Hill is the owner of the Plastered T-shirt. His store and home are both located on Nanluoguxiang. I caught up with Dominic this week to get an early scoop on this weekend's festival.