Typical to Peking, the hutong refers to the ancient city alleys and narrow lanes which have existed for hundreds of years. In the past, several thousand lanes, alleys and quadrangles (siheyuan) formed residential areas for ordinary people living in the capital city.
Even today, as the city develops into an international metropolis, its lanes and alleyways still occupy one third of the city proper and serve as dwellings for half of the total urban population. In contrast to the palaces and tombs of Chinese Emperors, the hutong reflects the lives of ordinary Peking residents; we are sure that our excursion by rickshaw, taking in a visit to a local family, will be something you will never forget.
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