Beijing Hutong – the Vitality & Pulse of Beijing

The names are another interesting feature of Beijing Hutong besides its culture and appearance. Since Beijing people feel at ease when most aspects are close to their life, all hutongs have their characteristic folksy names, from rivers, lakes, mountains, moons, surnames, temples, commodities, factories, flowers, fishes, clouds, stars, water, wells, harbors, wind, fire, trees, chickens, meat, etc. like Yuer Hutong (雨儿胡同, Rain Hutong), Haibin Hutong (海滨胡同, Harbor Hutong), Jinger Hutong (井儿胡同, Hutong of Well), and so on.

Moreover, different from other cities where people are inclined to name a place after a city name, like Nanjing Road, Guangzhou Road, place names in Beijing are more of living, like those hutongs name related to the rice, oil, salt, vinegar, etc. and those named about gold, silver, copper, iron and tin. All interesting hutong names show the purity and honesty of Beijing people.

Among all the thousands of hutongs in Beijing, some distinctive ones are worth having a general knowledge and even going to have a look, like the Shichahai Hutongs, Bell & Drum Towers Hutongs, South Gong & Drum Alley, Pipe Slanting Street, etc.

Shichahai Hutongs

Shichahai (什刹海) best keeps the most old Beijing buildings, so you can visit about 15 hutongs with particular features, imperial mansions and former homes of renowned people in this area, like the Prince Gong’s Mansion (恭亲王府), which is the most-preserved palace of a prince of Qing dynasty in Beijing and a typical garden palace of a prince. What’s more, Shichahai is a famous tourism sightseeing area in Beijing. Fascinating natural scenery with lush plants and crystal clear lakes are placed here, which enables Shichahai to get the honor as the “Western Watery Place in China”.

Address: Xicheng District, Beijing.

Bell & Drum Towers Hutongs

The Bell Tower (钟楼) and the Drum Tower (鼓楼) are the must-visit places for people first visiting Beijing. Hutongs in this area extend in all directions with famous Beijing time-honored brands and antique culture surrounding. It is really like a magic experience to roam in these deep and quiet hutongs, admiring the old pines and overhanging eaves of the hundreds-year-old dwellings, and hearing the ear-pleasing chime and drumbeat at a fixed time.

Address: Zhonglouwan, Dongcheng District, Beijing.

Nanluoguxiang

Nanluoguxiang (南锣鼓巷), or called South Gong & Drum Alley, 8m wide and 787m long, is one of the oldest blocks in Beijing built more than 740 years ago. It is also the traditional residential area of checkerboard type with the most-preserved texture of hutong and courtyard in the Yuan dynasty (A.D. 1271 - 1368), largest scale, highest level and most resources in China and richest old Beijing flavor. Since it was a rich land hundreds of years ago, countless imperial mansions and grand courtyards are left along this alley.>>Read More about Nanluoguxiang

Address: Dongcheng District, Beijing.

Yandaixie Street

Yandaixie Street, or Yandai Byway (烟袋斜街), is the oldest slanting street in Beijing with a length of 232m. It got the name because a lot of stores sell long-stemmed Chinese pipes and hookahs, and other smoking sets are prevailing along this street from the late Qing dynasty to 1930s. Furthermore, since Yandaixie Street is a top famous cultural street in northern Beijing with abundant simple old Bejing buildings and full atmosphere of cultural and artistic breath, tourists can see the remains of many cultural celebrities and find antiques, painting and calligraphic works, and ancient constructions, etc. in this great place.>>Read More about Yandaixie Street

Address: Xicheng District, Beijing; in front of the Drum Tower.

Apart from the above mentioned featured hutongs, some others of THE MOST are also worth spending some time. The longest is Dongxijiaominxiang (东西交民巷) for 6.5 km long; Lingjing Hutong (灵境胡同) has the widest cover of 32.18 m; Qianshi Hutong (钱市胡同) filled with old Chinese money shops before is the narrowest one of only 0.44 m at some section, and people must walk sideway through this pass if there are 2 walking towards; Jiuwan Hutong (九弯胡同) winding for 19 times is the hutong having most corners; Zhuanta Hutong (砖塔胡同) since Yuan dynasty is the oldest one in Beijing and is regarded as the “Root of Beijing Hutongs”.

You can choose many different ways to get close to these characteristic Beijing Hutongs to appreciate the special ancient buildings and to experience the local old life and rich Beijing culture, such as enjoying the special buildings on a rickshaw; learning to make dumplings in a local residence; biking through the deep hutongs, etc.

Take a rickshaw to visit Hutongs

Almost all friends from other countries prefer to take a rickshaw to visit the old hutongs. They can both appreciate the ancient alleys with grey brick walls and particular northern Chinese quadrangle courtyards, and listen to the related history and stories along the way since some wheelers can speak some English. Moreover, you can see the remained palace of the prince to admire the excellence in the gardens and decorations and to experience the past life and prosperity of Chinese imperial household.

Making dumplings in a local family

You can choose to take the chance of making dumplings in a local residence in a hutong, which is an uncommon opportunity to know every step of making these delicious northern China dumplings and understand more about the rich culture of family reunion and the sincere hope for bright future life in China. Also, you can feel it really interesting, warm and sweet to enjoy a meal with the hospitable Beijing people.

Biking along Beijing Hutongs

Renting a bike to roam along the hutongs is of full fun as well. You can enjoy the historical feature in the deep and serene hutongs, watch the local Beijing people’s daily life, and appreciate and charming sightseeing near these old buildings. You will understand why foreign people say that Beijing Hutongs are so beautiful and charming!

Besides those featured activities, you can also choose other interesting things to do to enjoy the real life and local culture of old Beijing, such as learning the Chinese paper cutting of various patterns, trying the calligraphy to know the ancient writing of Chinese, making Chinese Knots, Yangko dancing, etc.

Since the number of Beijing Hutongs is so large, we recommended you to visit some representative featured ones to experience its rich culture.

Usual Tourist Route

Visit the Bell & Drum Towers Hutongs to hear the chime and drumbeat and enjoy the old different hutongs along the way, and see the old former houses of celebrities, like the Prince Gong’s Mansion. Then wander along other interesting hutongs to Shichahai area and appreciate the beautiful landscape. (For about 2-4 hours)

Special Photographic Route

Visit the South Gong & Drum Alley to capture images of the best-preserved residential area of checkerboard type. See the fascinating natural scenery in Shichahai and take pictures of the well preserved former houses of famous people. Then, go to the Pipe Slanting Street to enjoy the rich culture and artistic breath of simplicity. Next, go to feel the antique flavor of the old boutiques and hear the crispy sound of the ancient bell and drum in Bell & Drum Tower Hutongs. (For a half to one day)