Across from the Temple of Heaven lies Xiannongtan, a secret imperial site overlooked by 99% of tourists. Here, emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties offered sacrifices to the god of agriculture and personally tilled the fields—it was here that the folk saying “one mu and three fen of land”…
Last Updated: Aug. 2026 Zhiranju Hutong is a quiet alley just 300 meters long, nestled right next to the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park. During the Ming Dynasty, this was the place where fabrics were dyed and garments made specifically for the emperor; the silk woven here 600 years ago predates…
The first time I walked into Gongmenkou Toutiao, I was drawn in by the narrow side streets east of White Pagoda Temple. The alley is quite short, running east to west, stretching from near Fuchengmen Bridge all the way to the western fork of Gongmenkou. With its gray walls and…
Last Updated: Aug. 2026 Doufuchi Hutong is a small alley just 477 meters long, located right next to Beijing’s Bell and Drum Towers, yet it holds over 700 years of history—including Hong’en Temple, known as the “strategic point at the tail of the dragon” during the Yuan Dynasty; the small…
The first time I walked into Guan Shuyuan Hutong, I was drawn by the long stretch of red wall on the east side of the Confucius Temple. The wall was tall, its red hue in the sunlight as serene as frozen time. Grass sprouted from the cracks in the blue-tiled…
My first visit to Zhao Fu Street was prompted by rumors of a state-run grocery store that opened in 1956. Later, it went viral online, drawing crowds of people who made special trips just to check it out. But it wasn’t until I walked the entire length of this alley…
> Shatan Houjie, a 300-meter-long alley, holds the history of modern Chinese higher education. During the Ming Dynasty, this site housed the Imperial Temple of the Horse God; in the Qing Dynasty, it became the residence of one of Emperor Qianlong’s daughters; and in 1898, during the Hundred Days’ Reform,…
Less than 320 meters long, Dongchang Hutong has served various purposes over the past 600 years, including as the headquarters of the Dongchang, the residences of powerful officials, the presidential residence, and an academic institution. Today, it remains an ordinary Beijing hutong where residents live. ️Important Note: Dongchang Hutong is…
Last Updated: Aug. 2026 If you’re looking for a hutong in Beijing whose very name evokes “money”—one that’s home to princely mansions, prestigious universities, and centuries of monetary history—Baocháo Hutong is a truly unique choice. Unlike the crowded Nanluoguxiang, it boasts authentic history dating back to the Yuan Dynasty—it once served…
