BEIJING, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Beijing has installed hundreds of underground power lines in its core districts of Dongcheng and Xicheng, which are famous for China's iconic hutongs, or traditional alleys.

State Grid Beijing Electric Power Company announced Thursday it had completed a project, removing 6,270 electric poles and burying more than 500 power lines since 2017.

The project was among Beijing's efforts to improve the environment in the core zone where historic buildings, traditional courtyards and hutongs are concentrated.

Hutongs are a type of narrow alley commonly found in northern Chinese cities, especially Beijing. They are usually formed by lines of siheyuan, or traditional courtyards. But local people have coined the term "messy yard" to describe the chaotic living condition of many hutongs.

The project started in 2017. Various measures have been applied by the workers to control dust, sand and noise caused by the construction.

"Now the dense electric lines overhead have been removed. The trees can grow taller and we can take more beautiful pictures in the alleys," said Zhang Yingxing, a resident living in Shijia Hutong.