Brief information on Hutong

Hutongs are one of the best of Beijing’s attractions for people who want to know more about the history and local customs of the city, and experience the remnants of Beijing’s ancient culture. Hutong, a unique Beijing architectural structure, represents the culture of Old Beijing.

Hutongs, which originated in the Yuan Dynasty, are typical small streets formed by lines of courtyards in Beijing. There are tens of thousands of hutongs surrounding the Forbidden City. As a symbol of the city of Beijing, hutongs have their own style and structure, which makes them one of the world’s cultural wonders. Hutongs and courtyards look like an orderly board, with delicate gardens, beautiful artificial hills and ancient ruins. Almost every hutong has its own story. Hutongs have witnessed firsthand story of Beijing’s development.

Since the mid-20th century, the number of hutongs in Beijing has dropped rapidly because they have been demolished to build new roads and buildings. More recently, some hutongs have been designated as protected areas to protect this part of Chinese cultural history.