Beijing Hutongs - By: Serena Zhu

Hutong Tour of Beijing is a unique cultural experience that allows you to take a glance on the traditional local life. Beijing's famous Hutongs or alleyways are unique housing structures that have been home to Beijing's families for centuries. A "Hutong" is an ancient city alley or lane typically lined with Siheyuan (the traditional residential areas of the people of Beijing, also known as Beijing Quadrangle). In fact a Hutong is the passage formed between the walls of Siheyuan. A Siheyuan is a walled compound of small buildings surrounding a courtyard. Most Hutongs run east-west because many Siheyuan face south for better lighting. Most are narrow alleys but some are wide streets that run for several kilometers. Hutongs are a glimpse into local people's lives. Many families have lived in a single Hutong for centuries.

Hutongs are windows into common Beijinger's culture and history. It is said that there are still about 4.550 Hutongs left in Beijing. Most of them were built during the Yuan (1271-1368), Ming (1368-1911), and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties. Traditionally only one family lived in one Siheyuan, but after the founding of the People's Republic of China, many families would live together in a single Siheyuan. Since most people have spent their entire lives in a single Siheyuan, everybody gets to know everybody else in their area and a single Hutong becomes like a small village within the larger metropolis of Beijing.

Most Hutongs have their own shops and artisans and most families never need to leave their own Hutong to get their daily necessities. Families tend to watch out for each other and help take care of each other's children and in the evenings most of the Siheyuans empty and their residents step out into the alleyways to take a stroll, play chess or mahjong, play sports, or just chat. It is a unique form of living that has gone on for many centuries.

There are several large Hutong areas left in Beijing, such as the Bell and Drum Towers area, the Shichahai District, the Niujie (Ox Street), and the Qianmen area. The most famous and commonly visited Hutong area is the Bell and Drum Towers area and the Shichahai District.

The ancient alleyways often give no indication of the treasures that lie within their grey stone walls. Some gates are highly ornamental with stone lions, or stone drums and colorful carvings on the main gate uprights, and some gates are simple and unadorned. Peeking into open gateways can reveal simple houses, or spectacular mansions. Each twist and turn in the alleyways offers new surprises. Touring the hutongs by bike or by pedicab is the best way to fully appreciate their amazing microcosms of life.

Hutongs are a wonderful experience that should not be missed when taking a tour in Beijing. Many Hutongs are time capsules carefully preserving a bit of the past. It gives tourists in Beijing a chance to step back into time and experience what Beijing life was like for centuries. You can visit http://www.chinaodysseytours.com to get more information about Beijing Hutongs.

About the Author

China Odyssey Tours - A China-based company provides tour packages for family, couple, individual & group. Help you plan & organize your tour to China according to your preferences.

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