A Walk into Old Beijing

Hutong is the local word for any of the imperial-era alleys where the traditional residential houses of old Beijing are located. At the back of the Forbidden City, there is a well-preserved old district where you can see hutongs and typical courtyard houses.

A hutong is a place where you can immerse yourself in memories of the old Beijing. They are charming places where you can learn about the traditional lifestyle and the culture heritage.

During this 1-day Beijing hutong tour, you will explore the historical and cultural sites of the hutongs, visit a family living in a courtyard house, and stroll along the oldest commercial alley in Beijing.

Tour ‘Wow’ Points

Discover the Most Honorable Temple

Hear about why Emperor Qianlong (1711–1799) turned Prince Mansion into a Tibetan Buddhist Temple and discover the treasures there.

Chat with Folks in their Courtyard Homes

Walk into a family’s houses in a hutong. Learn about the features of the old residential houses in Beijing and get a glimpse of the typical lifestyle in the hutong.

Stroll along the Old Alley

Immerse yourself in the memories of the old Beijing, which is cherished in hutong. Taste authentic Beijing from its famous snack sold in the alley.

Climb up the Drum Tower

Travel back to medieval Beijing times with the sounds of a classical drum performance as well as exploring this classical building.

drum tower

drum playing performence

Itinerary Quick Look

Here is a suggested itinerary. We are happy to customize a tour according to your interests. The time frame is just for your reference. It could be different due to the traffic on the day.

09:00Meet Your Guide

Your guide will wait for you at the Exit C of the Yonghegong (Lama Temple) Subway Station.

09:15-11:30Lama Temple and Confucian Temple

Walk into Lama Temple to learn about its rich history by visiting different treasures there. Then move to Confucian Temple and Guozijian, to stand on the place where emperors used to read the Confucius classics to thousands of students. Try the famous old Beijing yogurt which is the favorite snack of Empress Dowager Cixi.

11:30—13:15Walk along Hutong and Lunch

Stroll along the hutong.Try the fomouse Old Beijing yogurt sold in the alley. Try the famous local dumplings for lunch to refresh yourself.

13:15—14:45Hutong Family Visit

Visit a local family living in a hutong courtyard for generations. Learn about the architectural pattern of the traditional residential houses in old Beijing and the customs in it. Chat with the host and get a glimpse of the typical lifestyle in the hutong.

14:45—15:20Drum Tower

Climb up upon the Drum Tower. Enjoy the bird’s eyes view of the hutong area. Travel back to medieval Beijing times through the sound of drum performance.

15:20—16:30Explore Yandaixiejie

Stroll along Yandaixiejie (‘Tobacco Pouch Diagonal Street’) to discover the ups and downs of this oldest commercial street in Beijing, functioning since the Yuan Dynasty (1279–1368).

16:30Drive Back to Hotel

You will be transfered back to your hotel.

If you would like to be dropped off at any other location in downtown, we are happy to help you arrange it.

From USD 163 p/p

Number of Guests	Price Per Person (USD)	Package Total (USD)	All price detail
1 person	$199	$199	1 person｜$199 per person｜Total: $199
2 persons	$195	$390	2 persons｜$195 per person｜Total: $390
3 persons	$191	$573	3 persons｜$191 per person｜Total: $573
4 persons	$187	$748	4 persons｜$187 per person｜Total: $748
5 persons	$183	$915	5 persons｜$183 per person｜Total: $915
6 persons	$179	$1,074	6 persons｜$179 per person｜Total: $1,074
7 persons	$175	$1,225	7 persons｜$175 per person｜Total: $1,225
8 persons	$171	$1,368	8 persons｜$171 per person｜Total: $1,368
9 persons	$167	$1,503	9 persons｜$167 per person｜Total: $1,503
10 persons	$163	$1,630	10 persons｜$163 per person｜Total: $1,630

Based on a private tour for 10 persons. Price varies depending on program, travel date, and number of people, maximum for 10 persons.

A **$5 non‑refundable booking fee** applies to all packages for 1‑10 persons. Pay the $5 booking fee upfront to secure your reservation. The remaining balance shall be paid directly to your guide upon on‑site meeting.
Example: For the 5‑person package (Total $915), pay $5 booking fee in advance, then settle the balance of $910 USD with the guide when you meet. This way can utmost ensure both of our benefits. Reliability and trust are so important in business, and we are sincerely looking forward to seeing your reviews on TripAdvisor after the tour.

What’s Included

Private air‑conditioned vehicle & professional driver
English‑speaking private tour guide
Downtown Beijing hotel pick‑up and drop‑off
Full‑day scheduled itinerary

What’s NOT Included

Meals, beverages and personal purchases
Entrance tickets / attraction fees
Tips for driver and guide (optional)

Booking Terms

Example: For the 5‑person package (Total $915), pay $5 booking fee in advance, then settle the balance of $910 USD with the guide when you meet.

For groups larger than 10 people: pricing is calculated based on the 10‑person base rate plus additional surcharge for each extra attendee. The $5 booking fee still applies.

Booking at least 24 hours in advance is required.

Required booking information: nationality / country of origin, number of adults & children, preferred tour date and starting time.

Beijing Hutong Tour

Beijing One-day Hutong Tour