It is an old lane renowned for its long history, hutong culture, specialty stores, and distinctive foods. It is 768 meters (2,519 feet) long and 8 meters (26 feet) wide. Its north end joins Gulou Dong Dajie, and the south end is connected to Di'anmen Dong Dajie. There are eight parallel hutongs on each side of the old alley. These sixteen and the main lane were put on the first list of 25 historic and culturally protected areas in November 1990, by the local Municipal Government. Situated in the downtown area, it is convenient to reach.

Merkel takes a break for hutong stroll

It was built in the same period that the capital of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), Dadu, was built, so it is about 800 years old. The sixteen side hutongs were built in the Yuan Dynasty too. Because of its layout, people also call it the Centipede Lane. It was once named Humpback Lane (Luoguo Xiang) in the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) and renamed to Gong and Drum Lane (Luogu Xiang) in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The alley remains more complete than other historical heritage sites in Beijing, witnessing the vicissitudes of many dynasties.

It is like an old man who is telling an ancient legend about his past. Here, you can experience the special hutong culture of Beijing.

If you want to see an authentic courtyard, you'd better come here because this alley remains the most complete lane of traditional courtyard dwellings in Beijing. When you come here, you can see the red lanterns hanging under the eaves. You may find a trace of ancient prosperous Beijing here. You can see the totally different styles of architecture. Compared with the grand red wall and golden colored roof of the Forbidden City, it has gray walls and roofs that represent the folk culture. As it is close to the Forbidden City, many royal families and officials lived here. For example, the former residence of China's last empress, Wan Rong, is in the Mao'er Hutong. In fact, a number of historical celebrities lived in the alleys before, such as Qi Baishi, a great artist, who is famous for his traditional Chinese painting. He lived in Yu'er Hutong for some time.

Although a historic place, the culture here is full of innovation. It welcomes its guests with both an old appearance and a new combined culture of China and the West. Small, specialty boutiques welcome you. Le Tian Tao She at No.23 in it is a pottery store where you can enjoy a coffee while admiring the potters at their craft. You may even have a try and make your own piece of pottery. Many people come here for its creative culture and artistic environment. Several art studios have been established, and many movies and TV drama programs have been filmed here too.

Now, there are 115 different shops. Most of the owners and managers are well educated and some of the shop assistants speak English fluently.

Meals and snacks in this old lane are something else that will appeal to its visitors. The well–known dining hall at No. 108 in it is famous for its tasty pizza and Nepal-style drinks. Wenyu Nai Lao is a time-honored specialty yoghurt shop located at No.49 in it. The shop makes many different types of the best yoghurts. At No.114, the western restaurant Yu Shi Ju Jin provides delicacies of Russian, Italian and Indian styles. Apart from these restaurants, there are many distinctive bars that are worth a visit, such as Plastered 8 and Guo Ke (meaning Passerby) that are very popular among travelers.

Upside down couplet helps sell chicken wings

Walking on the tree-lined road along, experiencing the diverse culture, you will receive more than you expect. It is a feast for your eyes, stomach, and mind at the same time.

Tips:

1 You'd better wear flat shoes (you can buy a pair in the nearby shop and take them as a souvenir).

2 There is no parking in it. The best way to visit here is on foot or by bicycle. You can rent bicycles at Houhai or Shichahai. A tandem bicycle costs CNY20 per hour and a regular bicycle is CNY10 per hour. A CNY500 deposit for each bicycle is required.

Address: Nanluogu Xiang, Xicheng District

Bus: 13,118,823,850 and get off at Nanluogu Xiang station

3 Opening hours: all day