Beijing Hutongs Holidays

At first glance, Beijing appears to be a thoroughly modern city, but a stroll or rickshaw ride through the city’s alleyways (hutongs) reveals the charm of old Beijing. Hutongs are a special feature of central Beijing and weave across much of an area between Wangfujing and the east wall of the Forbidden City and also between Wangfujing and Dongdan. Typically running east to west, hutongs were created by the walls of courtyard houses (siheyuan).

It was during China’s dynastic period emperors planned the city of Beijing and arranged the residential areas according to the etiquette systems of the Zhou Dynasty (1027-256 BC). At the centre was the Forbidden City surrounded in concentric circles by the Inner City and Outer City. Citizens of higher social status were permitted to live closer to the centre of the circles. Aristocrats lived to the east and west of the imperial palace. The large siheyuan of these high-ranking officials and wealthy merchants often featured beautifully carved and painted roof beams and pillars and carefully landscaped gardens. The hutongs they formed were orderly, lined by spacious homes and walled gardens. Farther from the palace, and to its north and south, were the residences of commoners, merchants, artisans and laborers.

In the Qianmen area, south of Tiananmen Square, as well as hutongs and siheyuan, you’ll find many shops with original facades, selling Mongolian hot pots, silks and other items.