A hutong is a type of alley or narrow street that are usually associated with Beijing, the capital of China. The hutongs of Beijing are formed by lines of traditional courtyard residences called siheyuan. A number of local neighbourhoods are formed this way that is by joining several siheyuan together to form a hutong and then combining a few hutong to form the neighbourhood. Communities made in this fashion are referred to as hutongs. While these were once quite common, many of them have been demolished since the middle of the twentieth century making way for new buildings and roads. However, the importance of these areas has been recognised by the Chinese government and a number of hutongs have become protected areas.
Contrary to what one may think, hutong is actually a Mongolian word meaning ‘water well’, and refers to the way early communities formed around wells. The first recorded use of the term dates to the Yuan Dynasty. There are several notable hutong. The Beixinqiao Hutong is one of the more convoluted ones featuring over twenty turns. The Qian Shi Hutong is another popular place. Known for its narrowness, some parts of the hutong measure barely forty centimetres in width. The longest of these is the Dong Jiaomin Hutong measuring over six kilometres in length. The Guantong Hutong, which is only thirty metres in length, is the shortest.
By exploring these alleys foreigners can gain an invaluable glimpse into the lives of the locals. The life and culture contained within these structures form a charming and genuine picture of life in China. The layout of each hutong is different, and offers visitors different experiences. Tourists can hire a rickshaw to help make the trip to one of these alleys even more memorable. The drivers can also be quite helpful when it comes to navigating the tricky city roads.
Tourists can ease the hassles of travel by finding a Beijing hotel with a central location. The Grand Millennium Beijing is one hotel that affords guests easy access to the city’s popular tourist destinations. Travellers can take avail of the Beijing hotel deals to make the most of their vacation.