Address: Outside Lao She Teahouse, Qianmen Xidajie, Beijing (south of Tiananmen Square)

There are not many Hutongs left in Beijing, which has understandably caused some concern amongst locals and others wanting to preserve traditional aspects of Beijing life. Hutongs are traditional Chinese homes that are centered around inner courtyards. Many of them have been rapidly disappearing over the past few decades, as the construction of modern high-rises and apartment buildings continues at an unprecedented rate. There are supposedly only about 1200 Hutongs remaining, some of which are being preserved as cultural/tourist sites. 

 

It is relatively easy to find a hutong tour guide as many of them wait outside the main tourist attractions seeking customers.  One such place is outside the Lao She Teahouse (south of Tiananmen Square) where there are usually a number of guides who will try to convince you to take their man-operated rickshaw tour.  The tour is an hour long ride in which your tour guide will cycle you through the narrow alleys of a nearby hutong. The rickshaw comfortably seats two, and is just narrow enough to squeeze through the alleys. Whilst the tour does not actually take you inside local residents’ homes you do get a sense of the communal living for which these hutongs were designed, not least of which are the numerous shared public toilets which you pass along the way. The tour also passes through a number of lanes selling local artworks and painting materials. There may also be a scheduled stop or two at a local youth hostel. 

 

The tour costs RMB 100. At the conclusion of the tour you will be dropped off outside the teahouse where you started.