Top Things to Do in Beijing Hutongs

The Hutong neighborhoods in Beijing once dominated the city. Now many have been torn down in the name of progress and development, but the remaining ones still have plenty of secrets left to discover.

1. Explore

Whether on foot, by 3-wheeler (tuk-tuk), or bicycle, the Hutongs have a lot to see and do.

Picturesque little lanes, courtyards, and ornately carved doorways will meet the traveler with the gumption to get up and explore on his/her own. There are also many small restaurants, handicraft shops, and cafes.

The more tourist-oriented areas in the Hutongs have expensive bars, restaurants, and boutique shops, which make for nice dining and shopping. However, it’s still possible to find some hidden gems, such as shrines, Buddhist temples, museums, and libraries.

Bicycle

Bicycling provides a speedier experience than walking, especially between from Hutong to Hutong. It takes a bit of bravery though, not everyone is comfortable cycling in Beijing traffic. E-bikes are an option.

2. Learn Some Chinese Cooking and Crafts

Intrinsically Chinese experiences like learning how to make signature Chinese food (dumplings), and various arts and crafts are offered as lessons in the Hutongs.

Cooking

Visitors can take cooking classes with a local family in the Hutongs in which they learn how to make dumplings (jiaozi, 饺子).

These classes not only give tourists a chance to see the interiors of the Hutong courtyard homes but also to talk with local families about life there while eating the dumplings they made.

There are also more general Chinese cooking courses that teach foreigners about Chinese flavors spices, and cooking methods.

Crafts of all Kinds

Tourists can learn not just how to do the following Chinese crafts, but also their cultural significance and history.

Here are just a few:

Chinese paper cutting

How to fold and cut paper into intricate geometric patterns.

Opera Masks

Learn how to paint the iconic Beijing Opera masks, and what the colors represent.

Chinese Knot Making

Each knot is woven from a silk cord into a Celtic cross-like design.

Calligraphy

Guests can learn how to draw simple characters with the guidance of a teacher.

3. Shopping

Nanluoguxiang in the Gulou, or Drum and Bell Tower district are famous for their shopping. The shops range from upscale boutiques to kitschy souvenir and clothing stores. This large Hutong is called “Centipede Street” because it is one long, slightly wider alleyway with 8 others intersecting it at even intervals.

If you want a T-shirt that says “I ♥ BJ” (I love Beijing) or has an airbrushed picture of Mao Zedong with the caption “LMAO,” then this is the place for you.

Of course, there are shops spread throughout the Hutongs. Tourists will be able to find clothing, souvenirs, and Cultural Revolution/communist kitsch everywhere. Just about every hutong has street food available as well.

4. Eat

China is a land of great food. Where better to experience it than in the local neighborhoods of the capital city?

This topic could probably fill a small book. There are Beijing day and night tours that focus solely on the unique foods one can find in the Hutongs.

The food and restaurants vary wildly. Whatever Chinese food you are looking for, you can find. There are fine dining establishments built up in some of the former courtyard homes- where visitors to China can try Sichuan and Yunnan-style food.

There are hot pot restaurants where diners cook their own food in a boiling cauldron, and they can have everything from leafy greens to duck tongue to pig brain. There are small mom-and-pop restaurants where you can have simple fried noodles or homemade dumplings.

Street food vendors are prolific throughout the Hutongs as well. Tanghulu (sugar-coated fruit on a stick), fried potatoes, the occasional fried insect, pickled vegetables (of all kinds), and stinky tofu are all just the tip of the iceberg of the wealth of street food that can be found...

5. Learn about Traditional Chinese Pastimes

Mahjong

There’s a Chinese saying: “If you want to learn Chinese culture, play Mahjong.”

First popularized in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it’s a game of strategy, luck, and bluffing. Think poker+dominoes.

Devil Sticks (Chinese Yoyo)

Now more popular in the West, the Chinese diabolo- also known as “the devil on 2 sticks”- is over a thousand years old.

The user suspends a plastic or wooden hourglass-shaped roller between two sticks that are connected by a length of cord. The roller spins, bounces, swings, and comes to rest on the cord between the wooden sticks. Advanced users can do fantastic tricks, tossing the roller into the air and catching it. Diabolo isn’t just for fun, it’s also a nice bit of exercise, good training for hand-eye coordination, and reflex speed.

More Pastimes

Visitors can also learn Yongko Dancing, Cricket culture ( the raising crickets for fighting and singing- a bit like Pokemon), and the various aforementioned arts and crafts that have Chinese people have done for thousands of years.

6. Relax

Last but not least, don’t forget to take it easy. There are myriad teahouses and cafés all across the Hutongs. After a busy day of exploring, it’s great to sit down, relax, and watch the world go by. Teahouses are great places to experience Chinese tea (arguably China’s most famous product of all time) and people-watch.

Tailor-Make a Beijing Hutong Tour for Yourself

Wanna take a trip to China and see these charming hutongs? You can get inspiration from Recommended Hutong Tour Routes.

Optionally, China Travel can also customize a Beijing Hutong Culture Tour for you, based on your budget and interests. This can save you time, money, and trouble. Please feel free to run your tour ideas by us! Tailor-Make Now!