PAST MAKES PERFECT PRESENT

Miaoying Temple neighborhood capitalizes on its cultural cachet to lure capital's young trendsetters

In the heart of Beijing's Xicheng district is the historical Miaoying Temple neighborhood, famous for its White Dagoba. As the biggest and the oldest Tibetan-style Buddhist dagoba in China, it is one of the capital's landmarks. A dagoba is a dome-shaped shrine containing Buddhist relics, and is closer in style to the stupas originally built in India, on which China's pagodas were later modeled. Unlike traditional Chinese-style pagodas, which are tall, thin and multistoried with corners, dagobas tend to be rounder and squatter.

Today, the neighborhood has become a blend of old and new, where ancient hutong (alleyways) meet trendy cafes, creating a cultural hub that attracts local residents and visitors.

To document the area's down-to-earth life and changes over the years, seven retired photojournalists in Beijing have spent the last few decades shooting local scenes.