The top ten hutongs in Beijing are Nanluogu Lane, Yandai Xiejie, Maoer Hutong, Guozijian Street, Liulichang, Jinyu Hutong, Dongjiaomin Lane, Xijiaomin Lane, Juer Hutong and Bada Hutongs.
1. Nanluogu Alley
This 800-meter-long hutong is the busiest and most fashionable hutong area in Beijing. The most authentic taste of Beijing is hidden here. From the civil servants and generals of the Ming Dynasty to Queen Gege of the Qing Dynasty, as well as literati, scholars, poets and painters, every house in the hutong has countless romantic figures, and every place can involve a piece of history or story.
Nanluoguxiang runs north-south, starting from Gulou East Street in the north and ending at Di'anmen East Street in the south. It is 786 meters long and 8 meters wide. It was built at the same time as Dadu in the Yuan Dynasty (1267). It is the only complete lane in my country. It is the largest, highest-grade, and most resource-rich traditional residential area in the checkerboard style that preserves the courtyard texture of Hutongs from the Yuan Dynasty.
2. Beiluogu Alley
After passing through Nanluogu Alley and Gulou East Street, you will reach Beiluogu Alley. Different from the hustle and bustle of Nanluogu Alley, Beiluogu Alley brings rare purity and leisure. Trivial daily life is its most endearing appearance. There are also various surprise shops hidden here, as well as a cafe where you can enjoy a quiet afternoon in the sun.
3. Yantai Xiejie
"The sea waves are cold and the willows are cool, and the mist is cool. A cigarette bag lights up the setting sun. The silver bridge can carry the weight of the Western Mountain, and the old shop still smells delicious. The dream falls on the nose. The smell of the pot makes me drunk, and my soul wanders in the tile alleys. The side streets are shorter than the tobacco poles, and the years of the Ming and Qing Dynasties are longer in a few steps." The poem is written about the famous Yandai Xiejie in Beijing, which is located in the core area of ??Shichahai Reserve.
4. Wudaoying Hutong
Wudaoying was formerly known as Wudewei Camp. A battalion is a military unit, and the place where troops are garrisoned is generally also called a camp. In 1965, when place names were rectified, Xiaotoutiao and Xiaoertiao were merged and renamed Wudaoying Hutong.
Wudaoying Hutong is adjacent to the Lama Temple and the Imperial College Street. This hutong looks like Nanluogu Lane, but its charm is different. It has both commercial bustle and its own charm.
5. Guozijian Street
Guozijian Street runs east-west and is located between Yonghegong Street and Andingmennei Street. Guozijian Street is the only street with archways in Beijing.
If you want to take a cultural trip to explore history in Beijing, then Guozijian Street is a place you don’t want to miss. It is named after the Confucius Temple and the Imperial College.
6. East-West Liulichang
Beijing Liulichang is located in Xicheng District. 1 km from Tiananmen Square. Liulichang stretches from North and South Liuxiang in the west to Yanshousi Street in the east, with a total length of 800 meters.
Liulichang is the most important ancient cultural street in Beijing, located outside Beijing Hepingmen. It originated in the Qing Dynasty. At that time, most of the candidates who came to Beijing to take the imperial examinations lived here, and there were many shops selling books, pens, inks, paper and inkstones.
7. Maoer Hutong
Maoer Hutong belongs to Jiaodaokou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing. Maoer Hutong, this name will be familiar to people who are familiar with Beijing. It starts from Nanluogu Lane in the east, ends at Di'anmenwai Street in the west, is connected to Doujiao Hutong in the north, and is connected to Dongbuyaqiao Hutong in the south. In the Qing Dynasty, there was a hat-making workshop, so the name was changed.
Here is Keyuan, the most representative private garden in the capital. The last empress Wanrong, Ming Dynasty general Hong Chengchou, and Beiyang warlord Feng Guozhang all lived here.
8. Zhuangta Hutong
The concept of "Hutong" began in Dadu. At that time, 29 hutongs appeared, but only one hutong has written records, which is Zhuangta Hutong.
From the Yuan, Ming, Qing, Republic of China, to today, Brick Pagoda Hutong is the only hutong in Beijing that has always been documented. It can be said that it is the "root" of Beijing's hutongs.
9. The Eight Hutongs
The Eight Hutongs were once synonymous with Fireworks and Willow Alley. The eight Hutongs from west to east are: Baishun Hutong, Yanzhi Hutong, Hanjiatan, Shaanxi Lane, and Shitou. Hutong, Wangguangfu Xiejie (now Palm Tree Xiejie), Zhujia Hutong, Li Shamao Hutong (now Xiaoli Hutong).
10. The Hutong of Hundreds of Flowers
Among the hutongs in Beijing, many people are most fond of the "Deep Flowers". This is not because there is anything special about the hutongs, but It is the name of this alley that brings people infinite reverie and poetry. When people read the name of the alley "Depth of Hundreds of Flowers", they feel as if they have stepped into the depths of spring surrounded by hundreds of flowers. This is the special meaning of Chinese characters.