A PLACE, A STORY / Beijing
Hutong lanes
Courtyard lanes reveal Beijing at the scale of a doorway. Wander public paths, notice the details and respect the homes around you.
© Anagoria · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Resized and compressed. · Original source · License
© Anagoria · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Resized and compressed. · Original source · License
In the lanes around Nanluoguxiang, Beijing’s courtyard houses and hutongs preserve a smaller scale of the city. The area has a history reaching back to the Yuan dynasty, but a walk need not become a lesson in dates. A doorway or the turn of a lane can be enough to start looking more closely.
These are also places where people live, so keep to public paths and let private doorways remain private. Someday, you and a friend could choose a short wander with no list to finish. Compare the details you noticed, then let the conversation decide when it is time to turn back.
Editorial sources
Editorial review:
Before travelling, check current access, opening times and entry requirements with the relevant official sources.
