Beijing Hutong Tour - Delia Beijing Tours

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Beijing Hutong Tour

Hutong now means a lane or an alley, formed by rows of siheyuan (a compound with buildings around a courtyard) where old Beijing residents lived. The word "hutong" originates from the word "hottog" which means "a well" in Mongolian, in ancient times villagers dug a well and then lived around it.

It was recorded that during the Yuan dynasty a 36-meter-wide road was called a standard street, a 18-meter-wide one was a small street, and a 9-meter-wide lane was named a hutong. In fact, Beijing hutongs range from 40 centimeter to 10 meter wide. The longest has more than 20 turns.

The gray-tiled houses and alleys crossing with each other in identical appearance are like a maze, it is fun to walk through them but be careful not to get lost.

The hutong tour part of Beijing tours is a unique cultural experience that allows you to take a glance on the traditional local life. Beijing's famous Hutongs or alleyways are unique housing structures that have been home to Beijing's families for centuries.

In Beijing's Hutongs you can find small shops, bakeries, liquor and cigarette stores, markets selling vegetables, hair salons, bicycle repair shops, public telephone booth, and even tourist shops. There are also small stalls which sell small handmade snacks.

There are several large Hutong areas left in Beijing, such as the Bell and Drum Towers area, the Shichahai District, the Niujie (Ox Street), and the Qianmen area. The most famous and commonly visited Hutong area is the Bell and Drum Towers area and the Shichahai District.

Hutongs are a wonderful experience that should not be missed. Many Hutongs are time capsules carefully preserving a bit of the past. It gives tourists in Beijing a chance to step back into time and experience what Beijing life was like for centuries.

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