To
the Hutong
Daily
Departure
Book
This Tour or
Contact
us for tour inquiry  A
hutong is an ancient city alley or lane typical in Beijing, where
hutongs run into the several thousand. Surrounding the Forbidden
City, many were built during the Yuan (1206-1341), Ming(1368-1628)
and Qing(1644-1908) dynasties. In the prime of these dynasties the
emperors, in order to establish supreme power for themselves,
planned the city and arranged the residential areas according to
the etiquette systems of the Zhou Dynasty. The center of the city
of Beijing was the royal palace -- the Forbidden City.
One
kind of hutongs, usually referred to as the regular hutong, was
near the palace to the east and west and arranged in orderly
fashion along the streets. Most of the residents of these hutongs
were imperial kinsmen and aristocrats. Another kind, the simple
and crude hutong, was mostly located far to the north and south of
the palace. The residents were merchants and other ordinary
people.
 The
main buildings in the hutong were almost all quadrangles--a
building complex formed by four houses around a quadrangular
courtyard . The quadrangles varied in size and design according to
the social status of the residents.
The
big quadrangles of high- ranking officials and wealthy merchants
were specially built with roof beams and pillars all beautifully
carved and painted, each with a front yard and back yard. However,
the ordinary people's quadrangles were simply built with small
gates and low houses. hutongs, in fact, are passageways formed by
many closely arranged quadrangles of different sizes. The
specially built quadrangles all face the south for better
lighting; as a result, a lot of hutongs run from east to west.
Between the big hutongs many small ones went north and south for
convenient passage.
 At
the end of the Qing Dynasty unified and closed China came under
influence from abroad, having experienced change of dynasties and
the vicissitudes of life. The stereotyped arrangement of the
hutong was also affected. Many newly formed hutongs with irregular
houses appeared outside the city, while many old ones lost their
former neat arrangement. The social status of the residents also
changed, reflecting the collapse of the feudal system. During the
period of the Republic of China (1911-1948), Chinese society was
unstable, with frequent civil wars and repeated foreign invasions.
The
city of Beijing deteriorated, and the conditions of the hutong
worsened. Quadrangles previously owned by one family became a
compound occupied by many households.
After
the founding of the people's Republic of China in 1949, hutong
conditions improved. In recent years, the houses in many hutongs
have been pulled down and replaced by modern buildings. Many
hutong dwellers have moved to new housing.
The
hutong today is fading into the shade for both tourists and
inhabitants.
 However,
in the urban district of Beijing houses along hutongs still occupy
one third of the total area, providing housing for half the
population, so many hutongs have survived. In this respect, we see
the old in the new in Beijing as an ancient yet modern city.
A
new pastime -- roaming through Beijing's old, narrow streets,
hutongs, by old-fashioned pedicab to visit siheyuan, the old
quadrangles, and learn about the daily life of ordinary Beijing
citizens-- has attracted more and more overseas visitors.
Existed
as early as hundreds of years ago, narrow lanes, or hutongs were
common in ancient Beijing. In the past, several thousand lanes,
alleys and quadrangles formed residential areas for ordinary
people living in the capital. Today, as the city develops into an
international metropolis, its lanes and alleyways, occupying one
third of the city proper, still serve as dwellings for half the
total urban population.
If
sightseeing at the Imperial Palace, Ming Tombs and the Summer
Palace is helpful in learning about the lives of China's emperors,
the hutongs of Beijing reflect in turn the history of Beijing as a
whole.
A
day tour through hutongs gives you fresh insight into Beijing's
local life.
-
Start from the Gulou Square by old-fashioned pedicab to the picturesque Shishahai Lake area.
-
Visit the
Drum Tower, where visitors will enjoy a bird's eye
view of the old city, and watching the drum beating dance.
-
Through the Opium Street, Yinding
Bridge. Visit
the neighborhood in the rear Shishahai Lake area and walk in
hutongs to drop in one or two courtyard- style homes and, if
arranged, meal with a family.
-
Visit the Kindergarten.
 The
Drum Tower was first built in 1272 during the reign of Kublai Khan
(the first emperor of the Yuan Dynasty), and reconstructed in 1420
when the Ming Dynasty established its capital in Beijing. It rises
from a brick podium with a tower pierced by six gates and topped
by a roof of soaring eaves.
To
the north is the Bell Tower, first constructed in 1420 and rebuilt
of bricks in 1747 during the reign of Emperor Qianlong. The
original iron bell was replaced by a great bronze bell, which was
rung at seven o'clock evening until 1924.
The
lake is a broad expanse of water surrounded by willows, locust
trees and poplars - a lovely scene. People can have a boat ride
there in summer and skate in winter.
Tour
Fee: RMB200. (During Aug.
1st to Sep. 20th, RMB240) it will take about 2.5 hours.
We also provide the pick up service.
Pick up from your hotel at 8:00-9:00 am or 1:00 to 2:00 pm, after
the end of the tour, driving the travelers back to their hotels.
The Tour Fee: RMB240, it
means RMB240=RMB200 (Tour Fee)+RMB40 (Pick up service).
During Aug. 1st to Sep. 20th,
The Tour Fee: RMB280, it means
RMB280=RMB240 (Tour Fee)+RMB40 (Pick up service).
------
Book
This Tour ------ |
