Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TOURS
Exploring Běijīng's
hútòng
is an unmissable experience. Go on a walking or cycling tour
and delve deep into this alternately ramshackle and genteel, but always magical, world. Or
wander off the main roads in the centre of Běijīng into the alleyways that riddle the town
within the Second Ring Rd. Getting lost is part of the fun of exploring the
hútòng,
though
you'll never be far from a main road.
Good places to plunge into are the alleys to the west of Hòuhǎi Lakes, the
hútòng
behind
the Drum Tower, the area around Nanluogu Xiang or the roads branching west off Chaoy-
angmen Beixiaojie and Chaoyangmen Nanxiaojie, east of Wangfujing Dajie.
Hiring a bike is by far the best way to explore this historic world. But if you want to join
a tour, the China Culture Center
(Kent Center; weekdays 6432 9341, weekends 6432 0141;
www.chinaculturecenter.org
; 29 Anjialou, Liangmaqiao Lu; Liangmaqiao)
runs regular tours, or can arrange
also does guided
hútòng
tours. Many hotels run tours of the
hútòng,
or will point you in the
direction of someone who does. Alternatively, any number of pedicab touts infest the roads
around Hòuhǎi Lakes, offering 45-minute or one-hour tours. Such tours typically cost ¥60
to ¥120 per person.
