Beijing Hutongs: A Journey Through Time
Mainly distributed in the Dongcheng District and Xicheng District in Beijing, hutongs have witnessed Beijing’s long history. Being the beating heart of Beijing’s cultural and social life, Beijing hutongs stand as timeless guardians of the city’s rich heritage and must be included in your Beijing tours. Wandering through the narrow alleyways, you’ll discover the hidden gems at every turn, from quaint tea houses to traditional courtyard homes.
What is Hutong in Beijing?
In Beijing, hutongs refer to alleys or narrow streets flanked by houses on both sides. Usually, the length of Hutongs varied a lot, ranging from 15 meters to 6.5 kilometers. They connect one siheyuan to another, which are courtyard residences whose name derives from their layout: “sihe” means four sides surrounding a courtyard in the middle.
1. Beijing Hutong History
The term “hutong” first appeared in the Yuan Dynasty, originating from the Mongolian word “Hoton,” which means “water well,” as residents at that time often gathered around wells. In the Yuan Dynasty, Dadu (today’s Beijing) was taken as the capital, and it performed large-scale urban construction. Hence, a “grid pattern” layout with orderly streets was adopted. It was during this period that Beijing hutongs gradually took shape.
After the establishment of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Beijing underwent expansion and renovation based on the structure of Yuan Dadu, and hutongs sprung up like mushrooms. Since then, Beijing hutongs have taken an important position in the daily lives of Beijingers up til now.
2. Beijing Hutong Culture
Beijing hutongs are not just urban landscapes but also the carriers of the city’s cultural heritage. Through the various names, courtyard houses, red walls with green tiles, and the living habits of people, one can find distinctive characteristics of Beijing culture.
Besides, hutongs are also important places where Beijingers live, interact, and entertain themselves. Also, the communal courtyards, neighborly visits, and the sounds of street vendors calling out their wares, all show the daily life of Beijingers.
3. The Naming of Beijing Hutongs
Beijing hutongs boast many forms of naming conventions. Among them, some are named after geographical features or scenic sites, others are named after buildings or historical sites. Some hutongs bear the surnames of notable individuals, like Wenchengxiang Hutong (Prime Minister Wen Hutong). Besides, many hutongs are named after commercial places and business names, such as Dengshikou Street (Lamp Market Street) and Yandaixie Street (Tobacco Pipe Slanting Street).
Beijingers have a habit of changing the names of places, the new names are usually more elegant, and the pronunciation remains the same or close to the original ones. For example, Dajie (Robbery) Lane in the Ming Dynasty was renamed Daji (Good Luck) Lane in the Qing Dynasty; Lanni (Mud) Hutong in the Ming Dynasty was renamed Lanman (Brilliance) Hutong in the Qing Dynasty; Weiying (Guards) Hutong in the Ming Dynasty was renamed as Weiying (feeding Hawk) Hutong, etc.
Best Hutongs in Beijing
1. Nanluoguxiang (South Gong and Drum Lane)
Located 4 kilometers from the Forbidden City, Nanluoguxiang, namely South Gong and Drum Lane, is one of the oldest hutongs in Beijing with a history of over 700 years. It is a north-south hutong alley about 787 meters long and 8 meters wide and is lined with many specialty shops, cafes, bars, and restaurants. It greets visitors with ancient Chinese architecture, stunning views of the natural landscape, and the famous Beijing hutong street foods.
2. Yandaixie Street
Yandaixie Street is a historic slanted street about 300 meters long, named for its shape resembling a tobacco pouch. Located near the famous Shichahai in Xicheng District, this Beijing hutong mainly features various antique shops, tea houses, and traditional snack stalls. Besides, the architecture and street layout retain much of the Ming and Qing dynasties’ style, giving visitors a sense of stepping back in time.
3. Liulichang Cultural Street
This Beijing hutong is a paradise for those who are interested in antiques, calligraphy, paintings, and other artworks of China. Famed for its cultural and artistic product trading, Liulichang Cultural Street boasts a wide range of antique shops, bookstores, and stores selling scholarly supplies. Moreover, it’s close to the Guanfu Classic Art Museum, and you can drop by there after your hutong visit.
4. Mao’er Hutong
As one of the famous hutongs in Beijing, China Mao’er Hutong is an east-west alley about 585 meters long and 7 meters wide. Featuring many well-preserved siheyuans (hutong courtyard houses in Beijing), it was home to many well-known figures, such as the last Empress Wan Rong, the Northern Warlord Feng Guozhang, and General Hong Cheng-chou. What’s more, this hutong attracts visitors with the traditional local foods, which are mouth-watering.
5. Guozijian Street
Guozijian Street, situated to the west of Yonghe Palace and 4 kilometers from the Imperial Palace of China, is named after the Imperial Academy (Guozijian). This Beijing hutong is 680 meters long and 12 meters wide, and it is famous for its traditional Beijing layout and archways as well as the cultural relics like Guozijian and the Temple of Confucius.
6. The Eight Hutongs
In old times, there were eight hutongs of Beijing where first-class and second-class brothels gathered. During the Second World War, there were once 117 brothels hosting 750 prostitutes there. Chunfutang and Shengantang were the two most famous among them. The eight hutongs are Shitou Hutong, Shaanxi Lane, Wangguangfu Tilted Street, Hanjiatan, Yanzhi Hutong, Baishun Hutong, Pitaoying, and Shamao Hutong.
7. Other Must-visit Beijing Hutongs
- The oldest hutong in Beijing are the 900-year-old Sanmiaojie which was once called Tanzhoujie, and Zhuanta Hutong in Xisi.
- The longest hutong is Dongxijiaomin Lane, which is parallel to Chang’an Avenue. It starts from Chongwenmen Avenue in the east and ends at Xinhua Avenue in the northwest, stretching for 5 kilometers long. The Palace Museum is situated near this hutong.
- The shortest hutong is the 10-meter-wide Yichi Street at the east entrance of East Liulichang Road, which is 15.2 meters long.
- The widest hutong is the 18-meter-wide Lingjing Hutong (now it is expanded to a street) in Xicheng District.
- The narrowest hutong is the 44-centimeter-wide Qianshi Hutong in the Dashilan Area, which only allows one person to pass at a time.
- The most tortuous hutong is Jiudaowan Hutong in Beixinqiao, which has 19 turns.
Top Things to Do in Beijing Hutongs
1. Take a Rickshaw Tour
If you plan to travel to Beijing, don’t hesitate to take a rickshaw tour through Beijing hutongs, by which you can not only experience the traditional mode of transportation but also hear many interesting stories about the hutongs from the rickshaw pullers. Nanluoguxiang and Shichahai are the most popular routes for a rickshaw tour because of their well-preserved old architecture and fantastic shops.
2. Explore Historical Sites
Beijing hutong enables you to admire the ancient buildings and visit historical sites, which allows you to understand the history and culture of Beijing better. From the lives of ancient royalty to the elegance of the literati, all of which can be found in places like Bell and Drum Towers, Prince Gong’s Mansion, and Imperial College (Guozijian). You may like Exploring the Charm of Old Beijing
3. Discover Local Bars and Coffee Shops
Bars and coffee shops in Beijing hutongs combine traditional styles with modern elements, turning into good places for relaxing and socializing. There, you can enjoy drinks and experience the vibrant nightlife. Nanluoguxiang and Houhai boast many creative bars and coffee shops with different styles, and enter one that meets your appetite.
4. Practice Tai Chi
Practicing Tai Chi can not only strengthen your body but also help you relax and experience traditional Chinese health philosophy. Besides, the quiet Beijing hutong in Shichahai is a great place for Tai Chi, as this exercise emphasizes smooth and continuous movements, and you can take a Tai Chi class there.
Recommended Beijing Hutong Tour including Tai Chi Class
5. Try Paper Cutting
Paper cutting is one of China’s traditional folk arts, and it must be a wonderful experience to create your paper-cut works on your Beijing tours. You may attend paper-cutting lessons in workshops of old Beijing hutongs like Nanluoguxiang and Shichahai, where you can learn the techniques of this art and try to make your own paper-cut works.
6. Learn Calligraphy
Learning Chinese calligraphy is also one of the best things to do at Beijing hutong of Liulichang Cultural Street. Many calligraphy studios and cultural centers there are offering professional calligraphy courses, which allow you to experience the beauty of Chinese characters and the joy of writing.
Recommended China Tours including Beijing Calligraphy Class
7. Join a Cooking Class
Except for their architectural and cultural charms, Beijing hutongs also provide good opportunities for visitors to learn cooking. With the guidance of professional chefs, you can learn authentic cooking techniques and the cultural stories behind the dishes in the Beijing hutong cooking classes, and start cooking Chinese cuisine by yourself, including Kung Pao Chicken, dumplings, Ma Po Bean Curd, Peking Duck, etc.
Recommended Beijing Hutong Tour including Cooking Class
Best Beijing Hutong Hotels
There are many fancy hutong hotels in Beijing, for example, Man Xin Hotel in Xitao Hutong of Xicheng District, which is a classic siheyuan and is easy to find. Situated in a tranquil Beijing hutong, it has an architecture that keeps the old style with red walls and green tiles, but the inner facilities are advanced with bars, gyms, and coffee shops.
The hotel has a beautiful garden in the courtyard with various kinds of flowers, and it offers seats in the courtyard, allowing guests to communicate with each other like people did in old times. It is a 10-minute walk to the Drum Tower, and 5 kilometers from the Palace Museum, which can be reached by Metro Line 8.
Other Popular Beijing Hutong Hotels
- VUE Hotel Hou Hai, Beijing: Seated in Yangfang Alley in Xicheng District, this Beijing hutong hotel adopted a design combining traditional Chinese architecture with modern facilities, and it allows guests to see landscaped gardens and stunning views of Houhai.
- Mercury Tiananmen Hotel Beijing: Located on Meishi Street, this hotel boasts an old style of architecture but with high-tech rooms. Besides, it is close to many of Beijing’s attractions including Dashilar, National Natural History Museum of China, and The Former Residence of Ji Xiaolan.
- Beijing Rong Courtyard Boutique Hotel: Located in Mao’er Hutong, this hutong hotel in Beijing features traditional Chinese decorations, from the reception hall to each room. It’s near Shichahai Station (Line 8) and Nanluoguxiang Station (Line 6), which makes it convenient for you to get to attractions like the Imperial Palace in Beijing and Tiananmen Square.
Top Beijing Hutong Restaurants
Beijing treats visitors with a variety of delectable foods, and many delights can be enjoyed in Beijing hutongs. On your China tours to Beijing, never miss the tasty local dishes, such as Lu Zhu Huo Shao (stewed pork with baked wheaten cake), Zha Jiang Mian (noodles with soybean paste), Douzhi (fermented mung bean milk), and Lüdagun (glutinous rice rolls), which are all delicious.
Recommended Restaurants: Jinxiu Restaurant, Ju’er Renjia Restaurant, and Fangzhuanchang in Nanluogixiang; Makai Restaurant in Yandaixie Street; and Yaoji Chaogan Restaurant in Drum Tower East Street.
How to Get to Hutongs in Beijing
The metro network in Beijing is highly developed, allowing you to reach stations near various hutongs. For example, you can take Metro Line 6 or 8 to Nanluoguxiang Station and Metro Line 8 to Shichahai Station from tourist attractions like the Palace Museum, Bird’s Nest, or Water Cube. Besides, buses in Beijing also take you to various hutongs of Beijing.
