YANGROU Hutong is 600 years old.Located in the Xisi area of Beijing's Xicheng District,the area was originally a trading market for cattle,which usually ended up in the imperial kitchen.But with the name Yangrou (meaning mutton),butchers and mutton stores replaced the cattle traders starting in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).In those days,cries of sellers and the pungent smell of mutton overwhelmed every passerby.But today,those smells and sounds are gone.Although Yangrou is situated next to a bustling street,the 5-meter-wide lane remains tranquil.The essence of mutton has been replaced with the glitter of jewels.The hutong has become a famous gem trading center in Beijing,with scores of jewelry shops and wholesalers running up and down the road.