Beijing Old Town Free Walking Tour

Meet your guide at the metro station: line 8 or Line 6 Nan luo gu xiang station exit E.
In Chinese 南锣鼓巷南口 or 南锣鼓巷地铁口E出口 if you take taxi to the meeting point.

A trip to Nanluogixiang Hutong brings you back to the Yuan Dynasty (1271 – 1368) when the earliest hutongs and courtyard houses along Nanluoguxiang started to be built. The 800-meter long south-north Nanluoguxiang Hutong is lined with numerous trendy bars, yummy restaurants, unique hostels, lively themed stores and itirant vendors. Its vernacular courtyard houses, grey-colored, accompanied by old trees, showcase the solid books of Beijing's traditional architecture.


Continue to feel Beijing long history by walking along Mao'er Hutong. It is a very famous hutong among the 25 surviving hutong protected areas in Beijing, and is also one of the top ten hutongs in Beijing.

During the Ming Dynasty, Mao'er Hutong was known as Zitong Temple Wenchang Palace, which was a place where Emperor Wenchang was worshipped. Emperor Wenchang, also known as Wenqu Star, was a mythical deity in charge of literary activities. During the Qing Dynasty, the area was called Mao'er Hutong, named after a hat making workshop. 

There are many famous buildings and character stories in Mao'er Hutong. For example, Ke Yuan (located at No. 9 and No. 11) is one of the most representative private gardens in Beijing, built by the Qing Dynasty scholar Wen Yu, modeled after the Humble Administrator's Garden and Lion Grove in Suzhou. The former residence of the last empress Wanrong is located at No. 35 and No. 37, commonly known as the "Empress's Mansion". In addition, Ming Dynasty generals Hong Chengchou and Beiyang warlord Feng Guozhang also lived in this alley. ‌

Visiting a narrow channel joining Qianhai Lake and the Houhai Lake, the hub of Shichahai area with surrounding quiet hutongs. 

Houhai Lake area used to be part of the old Grand Canal of the Yuan Dynasty 600 years ago. And now it is circled by the former palaces of ministers, temples, well-kept Siheyuans (quadrangle) as well as residences of celebrities in the past.

Hutong walking tour will finish at Houhai lake area where you can find some restaurants for lunch.