Hutong & Beijing Alleyways

Hutongs are a type of narrow street or alley commonly associated with northern Chinese cities, especially Beijing. In Beijing, hutongs are alleys formed by lines of siheyuan, traditional courtyard residences. Many neighborhoods were formed by joining one siheyuan to another to form a hutong, and then joining one hutong to another.

The word hutong came into use during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). In the Ming Dynasty, the city was planned with hutongs running east-west to allow the courtyards to face south. At their peak, there were over 3,000 hutongs in Beijing, but many have been demolished in recent decades for modern development.

Today, the best-preserved hutong areas include Nanluoguxiang, Shichahai, and Wudaoying. These areas offer a fascinating glimpse into traditional Beijing life, with local residents still living in courtyard homes, small shops selling snacks and crafts, and a slower pace of life that contrasts with the modern city surrounding them.