Beijing, China Travel Guide
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Beijing Hutongs
Hutongs in Beijing
Overview: What are these things? Hutongs are essentially maze-like alleyways formed by compounds of houses and buildings. The houses in the compounds face each other and form courtyards. There are often, hutongs within larger hutongs; thus, many more alleyways. The Chinese started building hutongs in the early 1200’s around the Forbidden City. These hutongs immediately around the Forbidden City were inhabited by those of a higher status. Thousands more hutongs surfaced by the regular folk.
The hutongs are made of concrete or wood or both. They often have slanted tiled roofs. The alleyways themselves are narrow. The doorways into the compounds of houses and courtyards are narrow with large steps at the threshold. The compounds of houses and courtyards that make up the alleys can lead to several other alleys. There are alleyways within the buildings themselves. The multitude of alleyways can make for a huge maze!
Hutong doorway
The fascinating aspect of original hutongs is their ability to conjure up a sense Beijing’s history and Beijing’s people. They are usually inhabited today by older people and/or people with less money these days. Today, the hutongs are disappearing, especially in light of the Olympics and the clean up of the city. There are some large hutong areas that can not be transformed now. You can take a tour in a rickshaw through the hutong areas.
Locations: Some of the more famous Nanluogu Xiang, which is north of the Forbidden City and close to Di’anmen. The area north of the Forbidden City and Beihai Lake has a concentrated about of hutongs. Off of Chang’an on Shibei, about four blocks west of Tiananmen Square are the Shibei hutongs. These are easily accessible if you are staying near Tiananmen Square. South of Tiananmen Square on Qianmen Dajie has more hutongs.
Cost: Free
Accessibility: Hutongs are wheelchair accessible.