翻译原文：
胡同(Hutong)是北京的一大特色，有着与北京城一样久远的历史。最早的胡同出现在元朝(the Yuan Dynasty)，如今大部分胡同是在明清时代(the Ming and Qing Dynasties)形成的。据专家考证，“胡同”一词源 干蒙古语(Mongolian)的“井”。自古以来胡同都是北京城里普通市民生息的场所，可以说是北京平民文化的代表。但随着人口的增加，很多古老的胡同已经消失，取而代之的是现代化的却没有特色的高楼大厦。
表达难点：
1.第1句中的“馆藏丰富的”用现在分词短语表达，作后置定语，译作boasting vast collections.“一座宝藏” 可简单译为a treasure，但不如用a palace of treasure来表达语义更生动饱满。
2.第2句中的“但令人遗憾的是”可套用句型it is a pity that…，此处用副词regrettably置句首修饰一整句则更简单，是英语中常用的表达方式。
3.仔细分析可发现，第4句“这一举动……良好的开端”中的“这一举动”指代前一句的内容，故将该句处理成非限制性定语从句，译作which is a good start…。 “为学术馆藏走近普通大众”表目的，故将其处理成状语，用不定式短语to bring academic collections closer to the general public 来表达。
4.最后一句进行了对比，重点为后一分句内容“国内的髙校博物馆仍然有待发掘”(the domestic university museums are still waiting to be discovered)。所以翻译时，可以考虑将这两个分句进行“合译”，后一分句作主句，前一分句则处理成用as引导的状语从句，使译文结构紧凑流畅。
参考译文：
The university museums boasting vast collections are undoubtedly "a palace of treasure". Regrettably, however, this treasure has been receiving little attention. Recently, some university in Beijing announce that their museums will grant free access to the public, which is a good start to bring academic collections closer to the general public. But as many world-class university museums have long been famous attractions for tourists and scholars, the domestic university museums are still waiting to be discovered.