A Walk into Old Beijing
Hutong is the local word for any of the imperial-era alleys where the traditional residential houses of old Beijing are located. At the back of the Forbidden City, there is a well-preserved old district where you can see hutongs and typical courtyard houses.
A hutong is a place where you can immerse yourself in memories of the old Beijing. They are charming places where you can learn about the traditional lifestyle and the culture heritage.
During this 1-day Beijing hutong tour, you will explore the historical and cultural sites of the hutongs, visit a family living in a courtyard house, and stroll along the oldest commercial alley in Beijing.
Tour 'Wow' Points
Discover the Most Honorable Temple
Hear about why Emperor Qianlong (1711–99) turned Prince Mansion into a Tibetan Buddhist Temple and discover the treasures there.
Chat with Folks in their Courtyard Homes
Walk into a family's houses in a hutong. Learn about the features of the old residential houses in Beijing and get a glimpse of the typical lifestyle in the hutong.
Stroll along the Old Alley
Immerse yourself in the memories of the old Beijing, which is cherished in hutong. Taste authentic Beijing from its famous snack sold in the alley.
Climb up the Drum Tower
Travel back to medieval Beijing times with the sounds of a classical drum performance as well as exploring this classical building.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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Beijing in a day
My partner found this company and booked with ease and no hassle. From start to finish we have been so looked after, upon arrival in Beijing after a train from Shanghai we were met by our guide Selinda. She has been amazing through out the day, flexible with times. She showed us the best place to get some food and then taking us to and from the Great Wall was filled with information and little facts. Plenty of time was given to explore the wall and then we were taken for some dumplings to revive us. Selinda made sure we were looked after and ensured we got back on the correct train. She made this trip so much less stressful and much more enjoyable. Would highly recommend this company for future use. more
Jan 2025, French-Biscuit14
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Great way to tour Beijing
My daughter and I toured Beijing with Selinda. She was prompt, professional, friendly, and helpful. We saw Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Mutianyu Great Wall section. At each site she shared the history and offered suggestions of good places for pictures. She was attentive to us and made sure we had everything we needed. The driver was helpful and having him drop us off and pick us up was immensely helpful. We toured the Summer Palace with Jason and he also did a stellar job sharing interesting facts and information which gave us context and a greater appreciation of what we saw. Jason, like Selinda, did a splendid job suggesting good photo spots and always happily offered to take our picture for us. I highly recommend these two tour guides and the driver. This was a great way to see some of the tourist attractions in Beijing. more
Jan 2025, Chris
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Epic time in Beijing with Selinda Zhang
A huge shoutout to our most awesome tour guide Selinda Zhang!!! She is a walking talking encyclopaedia with a wealth of knowledge both historic and current. She made our visits to well preserved historical sites all the more interesting sharing architecture, literature, Chinese penmanship and poems to highlight the significance of each site we visited! She engages both adults and children and usually reticent kids were asking questions and learnt heaps about Beijing history this trip. We had an epic time in Beijing thanks to Selinda!! more
Jan 2025, Hwei ling C
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Itinerary Quick Look
Here is a suggested itinerary. We are happy to customize a tour according to your interests. The time frame is just for your reference. It could be different due to the traffic on the day.
Your guide will wait for you at the Exit C of the Yonghegong (Lama Temple) Subway Station.
Walk into Lama Temple to learn about its rich history by visiting different treasures there. Then move to Confucian Temple and Guozijian, to stand on the place where emperors used to read the Confucius classics to thousands of students. Try the famous old Beijing yogurt which is the favorite snack of Empress Dowager Cixi.
Stroll along the hutong.Try the fomouse Old Beijing yogurt sold in the alley. Try the famous local dumplings for lunch to refresh yourself.
Visit a local family living in a hutong courtyard for generations. Learn about the architectural pattern of the traditional residential houses in old Beijing and the customs in it. Chat with the host and get a glimpse of the typical lifestyle in the hutong.
Climb up upon the Drum Tower. Enjoy the bird's eyes view of the hutong area. Travel back to medieval Beijing times through the sound of drum performance.
Stroll along Yandaixiejie ('Tobacco Pouch Diagonal Street') to discover the ups and downs of this oldest commercial street in Beijing, functioning since the Yuan Dynasty (1279–1368).
You will be transfered back to your hotel.
If you would like to be dropped off at any other location in downtown, we are happy to help you arrange it.
Price Includes:
- English speaking local guide
- Activities and meals listed in the itinerary
- 24/7 helpline for while you are traveling
Tour code: bj-2b