Beijing’s hutongs are the narrow lanes of grey-brick courtyard houses that still run through the old city. The best areas to walk are Shichahai and Houhai by the lakes, Nanluoguxiang, Wudaoying near the Lama Temple, and Dashilar south of Qianmen. The main lanes are free to walk, and the Drum and Bell Towers stand just north of the Shichahai lakes.
- Cost: the main hutong streets are free; courtyards, museums and boats charge separately
- Drum and Bell Towers: CNY 30 combo ticket to climb both (as of November 2026), bought on site
- Best areas: Shichahai and Houhai, Nanluoguxiang, Wudaoying, Dashilar and Qianmen
- Getting there: Line 8 to Shichahai or Line 6/8 to Nanluoguxiang; Line 2 to Qianmen
- Best time: weekday mornings, any season; Mondays work well
Courtyard life in the old lanes
Turn off a main road and the city changes in a few steps. Bicycles lean against grey walls, a red door stands half open on a courtyard with a persimmon tree, someone’s birdcage hangs from a branch, and the smell of frying scallion pancakes drifts out of a kitchen window. People still live in these courtyards, and the lanes are where they shop and walk their grandchildren to school.
Many of these lanes are very old. Nanluoguxiang was laid out at the same time as Dadu, the Yuan-dynasty capital, more than 740 years ago, and the lanes branching off it still follow that Yuan grid of hutongs and courtyards. In winter, look for tanghulu, hawthorn berries on a skewer in a glassy sugar shell; it is a cold-weather treat because the chilly air keeps the shell crisp.
The best hutong areas at a glance
| Area | What it feels like | Metro |
|---|---|---|
| Shichahai and Houhai | Lakes, willows, lanes, the Drum and Bell Towers | Line 8, Shichahai |
| Nanluoguxiang | Busy main lane, quiet side lanes | Lines 6 and 8, Nanluoguxiang |
| Wudaoying | Cafés and small shops | Line 2, Andingmen or Yonghegong |
| Dashilar and Qianmen | Old shops, south of the square | Line 2, Qianmen |
Shichahai and Houhai: lakes and lanes
Shichahai is the name for the chain of lakes north of Beihai Park, and Houhai is one of them. Willows lean over the water, and the hutongs press right up to the shore. This is where rickshaw rides often wind through the lanes, past courtyard gates carved with lucky symbols.
From the lakes, Yandai Xiejie, the old “Tobacco Pipe Lane”, angles up toward the Drum and Bell Towers, about 10 minutes’ walk away. Nearby, the courtyard in Yuer Hutong can be visited with a scan-code reservation, and Prince Gong’s Mansion, a grand Qing mansion with a classical garden behind it, stands on Qianhai West Street, close to the lakes. Prince Gong’s needs an online booking, opens from 20:00 ten days ahead, and is closed on Mondays.
Shichahai station on Line 8 is one stop from Nanluoguxiang, so the two areas join up easily on foot. Travelers also like this area in the early evening, when the lakeside lights come on around sunset and the Drum Tower is lit, and they suggest a slow walk from Yinding Bridge up Yandai Xiejie to the tower square.
The Drum Tower and Bell Tower
At the north end of Di’anmenwai Street, on the city’s central axis, two towers face each other across a small square. For centuries they kept time for the capital: drums and the bell marked the night watches, struck “fast eighteen, slow eighteen”, 108 strikes in all.
- Drum Tower: 46.7 m tall on a 4 m brick terrace, reached by 69 steep stone steps. Upstairs is the one surviving original main drum, damaged and still showing bayonet marks left by Japanese troops, beside replica drums made in 1988 and 24 smaller “group drums”.
- Bell Tower: 47.95 m tall, built entirely of brick and stone when it was rebuilt in 1745–1747 to protect it from fire. It has 75 stone steps.
As of November 2026, a CNY 30 (about US$4.50) combo ticket lets you climb both towers. You buy it on site by scanning a QR code, with no booking needed, and the square itself is free. Regular drum performances inside the Drum Tower can be heard from the square. In the 2025 spring notice, the towers opened 9:30–17:30; winter hours were not published in the notices we checked, so we confirm them before your day.
The steps on both towers are steep. If climbing is hard for anyone in your group, the view of the towers from the square is lovely in itself, and you can listen to the drums from below.
Tell us your dates, group size and what you would like to see. We reply with a day-by-day plan and a written quote.
Nanluoguxiang: the classic hutong lane
Nanluoguxiang is 787 m long, a straight north–south lane full of snack stalls, small shops and cafés. The main lane is all snack stalls and shops; the side lanes branch off it like the teeth of a comb, and a few steps in you are among courtyard homes. Walk the main lane briefly, then turn into the side lanes on either side. Travelers looking for quieter lanes also like Beiluoguxiang, which continues the line north across Gulou East Street. Lines 6 and 8 both stop at Nanluoguxiang station.
Wudaoying: cafés near the Lama Temple
Wudaoying Hutong runs east–west for 632 m, from Yonghegong Street to Andingmen Inner Street. Its name dates from the Ming dynasty, when a garrison was stationed here, and today it is a creative street of small cafés, bakeries and design shops. It pairs naturally with the Lama Temple at its eastern end and with Guozijian Street, home of the Confucius Temple and the Imperial College, just to the south. Take Line 2 to Andingmen or Line 2 or 5 to Yonghegong.
Dashilar and Qianmen: old shops south of the square
South of Tiananmen Square, Qianmen Street is described as a 600-year-old pedestrian street, and the “Zero Kilometer” marker of China’s highways sits near Zhengyangmen, the great gate at its north end. To the west, Dashilar is a warren of old shopfronts and narrow lanes, about 10 minutes’ walk from Qianmen station on Line 2. Nearby, Dongjiaominxiang, often called Beijing’s longest hutong at 1.6 km, was the old legation quarter and is still lined with European-style buildings.
Tips for walking the lanes
- Go on a weekday morning. The lanes are quieter then, and neighbors are out on their morning errands.
- Be a good neighbor. Courtyards are homes, so peek through an open gate but step inside only where you’re invited or where a sign welcomes visitors. Ask before photographing people up close.
- Mondays work well. The hutongs and the Drum and Bell Towers make a good Monday plan, when the Forbidden City is closed. Prince Gong’s Mansion is the exception.
- Dress for the season. November highs average about 10 °C (51 °F); January highs are around 2 °C (36 °F), so bring warm layers for winter walks.
- Snack as you go. Look for Wuyutai’s jasmine-tea soft-serve, a bowl of zhajiangmian noodles, or, for the curious, a cup of hot, sour douzhi with crisp jiaoquan rings. Our Peking duck and Beijing food guide has more.
Seeing the hutongs with us
Our Beijing hutong tour is a half-day walk around Shichahai, Houhai and the Drum and Bell Towers area, with a rickshaw ride through the lanes and an English-speaking guide to point out the details: the carved door stones, the courtyard layouts, the old shop signs. A private car or van takes you to and from your hotel in central Beijing. If you’d rather combine the lanes with the big sights, the Beijing classic day tour pairs the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace with a hutong walk. There are no shopping stops on either, and you can slow down or stop for tea whenever you like. For more ideas, see things to do in Beijing.
Tell us your dates, group size and what you would like to see. We reply with a day-by-day plan and a written quote.
Frequently asked questions
What is a hutong?
A hutong is one of the narrow lanes of Beijing's old city, lined with grey-brick walls and the gates of siheyuan, traditional courtyard houses. Many are centuries old; Nanluoguxiang dates to the Yuan-dynasty capital more than 740 years ago. People still live in them.
Which hutong area is best for a first visit?
Shichahai and Houhai suit most first-time visitors: lakes, willows, lanes and the Drum and Bell Towers all within walking distance. Nanluoguxiang is one stop away on Line 8, and Wudaoying near the Lama Temple is a quieter choice with cafés.
Does it cost anything to walk the hutongs?
No. The main streets of Nanluoguxiang, Shichahai and Qianmen are free to walk. You pay only for what you choose to enter, such as the Drum and Bell Towers, Prince Gong's Mansion, museums, courtyards or a boat.
How much does it cost to climb the Drum and Bell Towers?
As of November 2026, a CNY 30 combo ticket lets you climb both towers. You buy it on site by scanning a QR code, with no booking needed. The square between the towers is free, and you can hear the drum performances from there.
Are the Drum and Bell Towers hard to climb?
The stairs are steep: 69 stone steps in the Drum Tower and 75 in the Bell Tower. If climbing is difficult, you can enjoy the towers from the square and listen to the drumming from below.
Can I visit the hutongs on a Monday?
Yes. The hutongs and the Drum and Bell Towers make a good Monday plan, when the Forbidden City is closed. Prince Gong's Mansion near Shichahai is the exception: it is closed on Mondays except public holidays.
How do I get to the hutongs by metro?
Take Line 8 to Shichahai for the lakes, Line 6 or 8 to Nanluoguxiang, Line 2 to Andingmen or Lines 2 and 5 to Yonghegong for Wudaoying, and Line 2 to Qianmen for Dashilar, about 10 minutes' walk away.
Facts checked: 5 November 2026. Ticket prices, opening hours and entry rules can change; we re-check before every booking.