The Beijing Hutongs

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On January 26, 2011, in Beijing, China Travel Gossip, Cool Places, by Chloe

When you book your china flights and travel to Beijing don’t forget to visit the Beijing Hutongs. It is said that if you want to experience the real culture of this marvellous city then you have to visit the Hutongs and experience the culture that the courtyards have to offer.

It is alleged that one of the main reasons that tourists flock to Beijing is not because of the high-rise building, but in fact, for the Hutongs. A Hutong is ultimately a typical lane or indeed small street which originated all the way back during the Yuan Dynasty (1271 – 1368). The word “Hutong” is in fact a Mongolian word that stands for “water well”.

There is literally tens of thousands of these Hutongs surrounding the Forbidden City. Originally, Beijing was compiled of numerous courtyards which lead to the creation of the Hutongs. This was because the Hutongs were formed when people left a passage way that went through the courtyards as it made entering them more convenient. It is claimed that the Hutongs are indeed the symbol of Beijing. Due to the nature of the Hutongs having their own layout and structure, it has made them a wonder of the world and not to be missed as it is said that where there is a Hutong, there is a story.

All of the Hutongs have their own individual characteristics and history. The Beixinqiao Hutong is the one that has the most twists and turns so it easy to get lost. There are more than 20 of these turns so even if you have a good sense of direction it will still be an experience! The narrowest Hutong had to the Qian Shi Hutong, ranging between 30 – 40 metres. This can be located in Zhubao Shi street which is outside the front gate. However, it does get narrower! The more restricted part of the Hutong measures in at just 40 centimetres wide. To say it will be a bit of squeeze if you came across another person there would be an understatement. The longest Hutong in Beijing is called the Don Jiaomin which is 6.5 kilometres long (4 miles) which lies between Chang’an Avenue and East Street and West Street of the front gate.