Recently updated on January 17th, 2020 at 10:55 pm
In Beijing, the best place to soak up traditional Chinese culture is in the little alley ways you find dotted around this giant metropolis. These hutongs, as these alleys are called, are formed by clumps of siheyuan, also known as traditional courtyard residences. Back in the day one family built their siheyuan next to another which gradually formed a hutong. Then when one hutong joined up with another, an entire neighbourhood was formed.
Chinese residences are built according to set rules. Simply said, a siheyuan consists of four houses that are set around two courtyards, an inner and an outer courtyard and was inhabited by one family. These days some of the siheyuan are home to multiple families, if they’re not being leveled and replaced by high rise buildings that is.
Some areas in Beijing are protected by the government. One example is the area near Qianhai Lake which is best discovered on a traditional rickshaw tour.
There are many small shops, restaurants and eateries lining the hutongs here and some might say that these western-style establishments have taken away the authenticity of the buildings somewhat. However if you venture away from the main tourist drag, you might get a chance to peek inside the courtyards and get a glimpse into Beijing’s day to day life.
There are several siheyan located in the Qianhai Lake area that have been turned into museums, such as Prince Kung’s Mansion. Although this siheyan is probably slightly larger than an average family home would’ve been, it’s a great way to see what living in traditional Beijing must have been like.
Mei Lanfang Memorial is another traditional residence that is open for visitors. Mei Lanfang was a famous opera singer during the last century, but even if you’re not familiar with his work, his former house will give you a good impression of how the wealthy lived in his time.
If you’d like to discover Beijing’s hutongs on a rickshaw tour, have a look at our Classic China trip, which also takes in Xi’an and Shanghai.