Hutongs (Beijing)

The Hutongs of Beijing is where you will find a slice of true China in the middle of an ever changing, modern capital. I was fortunate enough to stay in a hostel in the Hutongs and my last trip to Beijing, and sat up late at night with my mate, watching the world go by - tuk tuk type creations containing miniature dogs, old ladies selling street food, and even the occasional welding taking place near the shop opposite us. There are many areas of Hutongs in Beijing. This is the name given to the small, winding alleyways which criss-cross areas of the city, and contain numerous houses with courtyards. They are pleasant, quiet places to find yourself wondering ...  Read the complete review

A hutong is an ancient alleyway or lane found in Beijing which can date back as far as the Yuan dynasty of China in the 13th century. The crisscrossing alleys can now offer a glimpse of another part of this ancient city that is quite different to the major attractions such as the Summer Palace or the Forbidden City. The tiny, twisted and interconnected lanes wind through whole areas of the city of Beijing. The lanes are lined with traditional stone houses all arranged in quadrangles, so four houses around a courtyard, which are beautiful old fashioned buildings. They often involve carved pillars, window frames and doors and the open spaces of the courtyard ...  Read the complete review

The hutongs are small alleyways crisscrossing east west acoss the city of Beijing. They are small narrow streets which one car could fit down, in some places only a bike could fit down them.It is a great opportunity to see some culture of Beijing and how people lived in the past. People still live here but not as many as there used to be as younger generations prefer to live in modern homes. Some of the hutong and courtyard homes are protected by Beijings Cultural Relic's Protection Association however many others are being bulldozed so there are getting less and less available. We got a rickshaw ride around the hutongs which had been arranged by a tour ...  Read the complete review