"HUTONGS of my life" Hutongs - Bell and Drum Towers Tip by ntm2322

Beijing hutongs are small alleys ranging from about 10 metres down to a few dozens of centimetres.

As the society develops many hutongs have disappeared to be replaced by new roads and buildings.

However, don’t think hutongs will disappear sooner or later. In fact, many of the most ancient hutongs are still there and the government is well aware of the cultural significance of the hutongs and many of them have already been designated as protected areas.

Many hutongs close to the Bell Tower and Shichahai Lake are several hundred years old and are very well preserved. The Niujie street and the Qianmen area also have plenty of them.

Actually, there are hutongs all throughout the city because the hutongs cover about one third of the area of Beijing and half of Beijing's population live in hutongs.

You can go to the hutongs by pedicab as many tourists do. Personally I prefer walking by myself, this way I can talk to people, smell the home-made food, buying traditional snacks here and there, admire the beauty of the lanes, watch the children playing with each other, watch the elderly playing chess, practicing taijiquan, dancing, singing Beijing Opera, etc.

Directions: There are many hutong areas. You might start off by visiting the Bell and Drum Towers area and the Shichahai District.
To get there take the subway and get off at Jishui Tan or Gulou Street subway station.