Jing Jichang and Wang Zhixi at their hutong home. [China Daily]

The facilities were backward - there was no water, so young Jing often carried two wooden buckets on a bamboo shoulder pole to the lane's only tap to get the family's daily supply. The lavatory was a hole in the ground at the side of the house and it stank.

The plumbing was upgraded in 1966 and four families moved in, increasing the number of residents to more than 20. "We got on well with our neighbors," says Jing. "There was no gap between rich and poor at that time, so people would not get jealous about you. We lived the same way and loved to swap information about things like where to get the cheapest food."

In 1976, there was a devastating earthquake in Tangshan, Hebei province. Jing and his neighbors set up sheds in the courtyard so they would have shelter in the event of a quake. The humble sheds were later turned into kitchens.

As the "cultural revolution" (1966-76) ended, Jing's family was able to get the property back in 1981. But it took a decade for the government to relocate all the neighbors. Since then, Jing and Wang have spent all their savings redecorating the house.

Luckily, Wang had worked on construction projects and knew where to get cheap material and laborers. The renovations completed until 2003. Thanks to its advantageous location and upgraded condition, the property now has a market value of some 10 million yuan. "We don't want to enjoy the house by ourselves. So, we decided to open it to the public," Jing says with pride.

Most of the couple's guests are arranged by local travel agencies and usually come from countries like the United States, France, Germany, Japan and Holland. The tourists either stay briefly with a sightseeing group or by themselves for several nights.

Three years ago, Jing and Wang's only son went to Canada to work, so they lost their best English translator. In order to carry on their business, they started to learn English from scratch. Wang denies it's too late. "I heard about a foreigner studying Mandarin at the age of 70, so why can't I pick up English in my 50s?" she says defiantly. They now have no problem communicating with English-speaking guests.

Chantal Dijkhuis-Forest has been living with them, along with her daughter and grandson for almost a month. "It's not a five-star hotel but we don't need a hotel, we need a home. I have found a homey feeling here," says the French woman.