"A visit in Hutong" Beijing Travelogue by socrates_07

Hutong, an area which I wanted to visit the first time when I was in Beijing. But I had no possibility, this time finally I visited it. And closer as I expected. As I mentioned on my Beijing homepage, I want to tell you a quite funny story. Although, first I couldn’t laugh at all. But before I tell you that story you should know more about Hutong. I found a very interesting LINK in the Internet, much more I can´t tell you about the typical attraction of Old Beijing.

http://www.chinavista.com/experience/hutong/hutong.html

And now the funny story:
I told Wendy that I am interested in Hutong long time ago. Her answer: 'It´s interesting to see how some local people live. And she mentioned, maybe we have the chance to have a dinner there. 'Great', I thought… but it was long time before I met her.
We were at the way home (at least I thought so) when we passed Hutong. She asked me if I am interested to take a closer look? “Yeah, of course.” I answered. So, we left the main street and walked into Hutong area. Then and when I took a closer look to a a quadrangular courtyard but I didn’t want to bother anyone. Just if I didn´t see anyone I entered the courtyard to take a picture. Suddenly Wendy asked: “What about to knock on someone´s door, we could ask if they invite us for dinner?” “Joke, right?”, I replied. “No, no, let´s ask someone, maybe we have luck to find some place where we can have dinner.” Well, I have to admit, although I prefer the local cuisine I would like to know WHAT I will eat. And I also have to admit, I don´t like sea food. So I was afraid that I will have the bad luck and our host would offer something like a “fish-eye-soup”. To say “No, I don’t wanna eat that meal” after WE asked for invitation would be impossible. And then she said: “I will knock on that door, let´s see if they have some dinner for us.” “Noooo, please,…..!” But it was too late. The door opened, a woman and a girl looked at us… And, of course, they were very surprised when they saw that Westerner. A Westerner with open mouth…. Suddenly I heared “Aren´t they nice, the really invite us” . A kind of corridor ended at the door to the building where they live. But that building was just one room. Without any words I just followed Wendy and that girl. Thinking of the “Fish-eye-soup”…
People always say I am talkactive but at that time I was speechless for a while. Just a “Xiè xie” (Thanks) when that girl offered me a seat. Suddenly Wendy said something like “Venice” .. "Oh, that girls name is Venice?" I thougth and introduced myself in English with that very complicated sentence: “I am Oliver.” More I still couldn’t say, too confused that I have the chance to eat in Hutong with local people… maybe a “fish eye soup”… Then again: “This is my niece” .“What”, I asked her “you mean, these are your relatives?”. “Yes, yes” her answer. I planed that dinner. “But it seemed that they also were surprised”, I said. “Well, I called them few hours ago, told them I will come with my friend, I didn’t say more, so they thought I will visit them with a female friend… and of course Chinese. That´s why they also were so surprised"
GREAT IDEA, Wendy!!!

Well, what did I eat? Of course no “Fish-eye soup” But Beijing Roasted Duck, dumplings, Chicken with noodles… surely one of the best dinner I had in these two weeks. And a wonderful experience....

The entrance to a courtyard

A view into a courtyard.

A public toilet on the street.

Now we entered a courtyard...