Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hong Lou
Head for the imperial
hutong
east of
Jingshan Park
(
Click here
)
, passing en route the
1918 red-brick building
Hong Lou
. It was once the library and arts department of Peking
University; Mao Zedong used to work here as a librarian in the days before he was run-
ning China.
Mao Zedong's Former Home
Turn right into Shatan Beijie then left into Songzhuyuan Xixiang. Bear right, then turn left
into Sanyanjing Hutong. Just before the end, turn right into Jiansuo Zuoxiang to find Mao
Zedong's former home at No 8. He lived here while working at the university library.
Former Home of Imperial Eunuch Li Lianyin
At the end of the alley, turn left, then second right and head left towards Huanghuamen
Jie. No 43 is the former courtyard home of the imperial eunuch Li Lianyin, a favourite of
Empress Dowager Cixi. At the end, turn right then left under an arch into Youqizuo
Hutong.
Eastern Wall of Beihai Park
Now the
hutong
twists and turns get fun. Turn right, then left at the end, then right at the
end beside No 46, then bear left, then right, turn left at the end and finally turn left onto
Gongjian Hutong - still with us? Soon after, turn right into Gongjian 2 Hutong, which
hugs the huge grey-bricked eastern wall of Beihai Park (
Click here
)
.
Forbidden City Moat
You'll eventually pop out onto Jingshan Xijie. Follow this road to the west gate of Jing-
shan Park, but turn right and then go under the arch in the far end of the car park, which
takes you into Dashizuo Hutong, a wiggly alley which wends its way to Jingshan Qianjie.
Once there, you'll see the Forbidden City moat right in front of you.
