Hutong

Beijing hutongs, lanes or alleys are formed by lines of a compound with houses around a courtyard where old Beijing residents live.

The word "hutong" originates from the word "hottog" which means "well" in Mongolian. Villagers dug out a well and inhabited there. Hutong means a lane or alley, in fact the passage formed by lines of siheyuan (a compound with houses around a courtyard) where old Beijing residents live. Beijing hutongs range from 40 centimeters to 10 meters wide. The longest has more than 20 turns. The gray-tiled houses and deep alleys cross with each other in identical appearances like a maze, you will find it much fun to walk through them but be careful not to get lost yourself. Many tourists take a rickshaw ride through the alleyways and tour the inside of a hutong where the resident often offers you a cup of tea!