Beijng Hutongs Tour

Hutongs or Hutungs are usually associated with Beijing. When you plan a Beijing trip on line with the local tour operators, mostly they will recommend you visit the Beijing Hutongs because they are considered as the unique window to see through the Beijing history, culture and the grassroots Beijingers' life. 

Hutong is a Mongolian word, means "the narrow streets or alleyways". When the Mongolian rulers established their capital in Beijing they built a lot in the city. The Beijng Hutongs are usually formed by lines of traditional courtyard dwellings-Sihuoyuan. Beijingers connected their Sihuoyuan one by one and form a neighborhood, and then joining one neighborhood to another. These linking neighborhoods are also called Hutongs.

Some old buildings along the Hutongs reflect the Beijing architectural style in the past.

In the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, Hutongs were nearly spread all over Beijing City. But currently, Beijing only keeps over 7,000 Hutongs. Each Hutong has its own anecdotes, and some are even associated with the historic events. They are named after rivers, lakes, buildings, mountains, flowers, fishes, people's names, official titles, market names, name of commodity, animals, some even named by the Beijing local slangs, very interesting. According to investigation, the oldest Hutong is Sanmiao Jie (Three Temples Street), which is over 900 year old; the longest one is Dongjiao Minxiang, which is totally 3250 meters long; the shortest one only measures a dozen meters; the narrowest is that one located in the Dazalan area, named Qianshi Hutong (Money Market Hutong), only 0.7 meter in width.

Hutongs are the most distinctive culture element in Beijing. They record the architectural styles and history of old Beijing. They are the optimum place to get close to the grassroots Beijingers. Sitting on the rickshaw, you may take about one or 5 hours to pay a visit to the Beijing Hutongs. You can visit the families who live in the Sihouyuan, learn how to make Jiaozi from the family members, or visit the primary schools by the Hutongs.

(May. 21st, 2009, by ChinaFactTours.com)