Tours
Beijing hutong tours: areas, rickshaws and etiquette
Beijing’s hutongs are free to walk. Where to go, walking, bike or rickshaw, how to avoid rickshaw overcharging, and how to behave on a hutong tour.
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A good hutong tour in Beijing comes down to a few choices: which areas to see, whether to walk, take a rickshaw or cycle, how to avoid rickshaw overcharging, and how to behave in lanes where people live.
Which hutong areas should you visit?
The hutongs most visitors see are the lanes around the Shichahai lakes (including Houhai), the Drum and Bell Towers, and Nanluoguxiang, a restored lane. They are close to each other, so a walking tour or a rickshaw ride usually covers more than one.
- Shichahai and Houhai: lanes around a chain of lakes.
- Drum and Bell Towers: two historic towers surrounded by old lanes.
- Nanluoguxiang: a restored lane, and the best-known one.
- For a calmer lane: Wudaoying Hutong, with cafés and small shops.
Walking, rickshaw or bike?
| Walking | Rickshaw | Bike | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Taking your time, side lanes, photos | Seeing a lot without walking | Covering a wider area |
| On your own | Yes: the hutongs are public lanes: walking around them is free | Possible, but agree everything first | Possible; check local signs |
| With a guide | Walking tours | Rickshaw tours | Guided bike tours |
- Walking is the easiest way to explore the side lanes, at your own pace.
- Rickshaw: Use a licensed rickshaw or one booked through a tour, and agree the price, the route and whether the price is per person or per rickshaw before you get in.
- Bike: a guided bike tour handles the route for you; on your own, follow local signs.
How should you behave in the hutongs?
The hutongs are not a museum: people live here. Most courtyards are private homes: stay on the public lanes, do not enter a courtyard unless you are invited, and ask before photographing residents.
What to check before booking a hutong tour
- Walking, rickshaw or bike, and how long the tour lasts.
- Which area it covers (for example Shichahai and Houhai, or Nanluoguxiang).
- What’s included: a courtyard visit with a family, a meal or tastings, or just the walk.
- Group size and the guide’s language.
- Meeting point and cancellation terms.
Hutong tours from our booking partners
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Offered by GetYourGuide
Hutongs & Drum Tower city walking tour
Check what is included, the meeting point and the cancellation terms on GetYourGuide before you book.
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Offered by Viator
Beijing old hutongs tour by rickshaw
Check what is included, the meeting point and the cancellation terms on Viator before you book.
Check availability(opens in a new tab)You can combine a hutong walk with other sights: see our Beijing tours and Beijing itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a ticket to walk in the hutongs?
No: the hutongs are public lanes: walking around them is free. You only pay if you book a tour, a rickshaw ride or enter a paid site.
Where are the best hutongs for visitors?
The best-known areas are the lanes around the Shichahai lakes (including Houhai), the Drum and Bell Towers, and Nanluoguxiang, a restored lane. For a calmer lane, try Wudaoying Hutong, with cafés and small shops.
How long is a hutong tour?
It depends on the tour and on walking or rickshaw. Check the duration in the listing.
Are rickshaw tours safe from overcharging?
Be careful: use a licensed rickshaw or one booked through a tour, and agree the price, the route and whether the price is per person or per rickshaw before you get in.
Can I go into the courtyards?
Only if you are invited or a tour includes a courtyard visit: most courtyards are private homes: stay on the public lanes, do not enter a courtyard unless you are invited, and ask before photographing residents.
Sources and last checked
Facts on this page were last checked on against these sources: