Hutong Rickshaw Tour

Overview

A guided rickshaw (pedicab) tour through Beijing's historic hutong neighborhoods offers an intimate ground-level experience of traditional courtyard life, narrow alleyways, and local culture that is difficult to access independently.

Highlights

• Courtyard Home Visit: Most tours include a visit inside a traditional siheyuan (courtyard house) where a local family explains their daily life and the hutong's history.
• Drum and Bell Towers: Tours typically begin or end near these landmark towers, connecting the old city's timekeeping architecture with its residential fabric.
• Local Interactions: Guides introduce you to street-side chess games, birdcage enthusiasts, and neighborhood characters.

History

Beijing's hutongs (the word comes from Mongolian for 'water well') date to the Yuan dynasty. At their peak in the 1940s, over 7,000 existed; today fewer than 1,000 remain, making preservation and cultural tourism increasingly important.

Visitor Tips

• Negotiate First: Agree on the price, route, and duration before departing to avoid misunderstandings.
• Morning Tours: Morning tours capture hutong life at its most authentic — residents exercising, shopping, and socializing.
• Duration: 1.5–2 hours.