Bejing Hutong Tour-Enjoy Beijing Hutong area and Rickshaw tour

20081212163239500customized private tours for you, your party or your family, no other travelers will join in your Beijing Hutong Tour!
The word “Hutong” originated from the Mongolian word “huto”, which means water wells. Since nomadic tribes used to live and stay near water wells, they called the small narrow alleys “huto”.
Beijing Hutong had its first appearance in Beijing in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).The Hutong name was gradually adopted by all the residents of Beijing , and has been handed down to the present. The houses built on each side of Hutong are called Siheyuan (quadrangle), are generally rectangular dwelling compounds, with buildings on four sides. Almost every quadrangle is surrounded by high walls. In fact, Hutong is formed by quadrangles standing side by side along a straight passage.
The width of Beijing Hutong was clearly regulated in the Yuan Dynasty and measured by steps. A passage of six steps in width was called a Hutong, running directly from east to west. A passage of 24 steps in width was then called a street, which ran from north to south. The whole city, therefore, looked like a chessboard.
With the passage of dynasties, this stipulation, however, did not seem to be so strictly followed in the Ming and Qing dynasty. The meaning of Hutong, in a broad sense, included alleys, passages and even small streets. “There are 360 Hutongs with names and those without names are as many as hairs on an ox”. This old saying is used to describe the numberless Hutong in Beijing. The saying is somewhat exaggerated, but it reflects the fact that Beijing’s Hutong are numerous and scattered everywhere. According to historical records, there were altogether 413 Hutong and alleys in Beijing in the Yuan Dynasty. The number increased to 1,170 in the Ming, 2,077 in the Qing Dynasty and 6,104 in the mid-1980s.If all the Hutong were arranged in a line, they would form a new “Great Wall
We elaborately launched some classic Hutong tours in which traditional Rickshaw will take you to view the featuring Beijing Hutong, and visit the local family, try to make dumpling with them that would be an enjoyable experience. Plus, take a boat ride on Shichahai lake, which surrounded by many bars and restaurants along the alleys. On these tours you can fully experience Beijing’s historical and contemporary visage.

Newly Designed One Day Tours

BHD-03 Beijing Half Day Hutong Tour to Local Family, Bell Tower and Traditional Alleys
Beijing local people’s life
Price: From US $39/RMB 234
BHH-03 One Day Hutong Tour
including all famous tourist places in Hutong
Price: From US $58/RMB 348