Hutong is an architectural mark of Beijing culture. It’s rows and rows of alleys in commoners’ areas formed by the houses in between called Siheyuan. Hutong in Beijing is what Longtang is in Shanghai.
The hotel I was staying in was located at Lishi Hutong. After checking in, I spent the day walking up and down the alley, but there was nothing much to see there, so I decided to visit the famous Hutong near the Bell Tower the next day.
Beijing Hutong and Siheyuan
Siheyuan is a traditional open courtyard residence with thousands of years of history. In the early days, Siheyuans were owned by wealthy families, whilst these days, they are used as housing complexes for multiple families. A real, single-family-owned Siheyuan is a rare sight in Beijing, but I was lucky to step inside one.
I started my exploration with a rickshaw ride around Nanluoguxiang lanes. Admittedly, it’s a touristy thing to do in Beijing. But I like doing touristy stuff, especially while visiting a new place because I am a tourist.
My rickshaw guy was an old grandpa who explained the history of Hutong eagerly to me. He pointed out the places on the left and right while explaining the stories behind them in Chinese. Unfortunately, I don’t speak Chinese. But I didn’t seem to bother him. I liked his attitude and tipped him extra.
The Siheyuan I went to was owned by a friendly owner who was happy to show me around. She shared interesting stories about the house, but then again, it was in Chinese, so I just nodded and smiled.
If she had told me, “I am going to keep you here and feed you, then marry you off to my son,” I would have nodded and never returned to share the story.
An afternoon well spent. My love for Eastern architecture and Asian culture were both satisfied.
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