A Wu For A New You: Shopping in Beijing's Hottest Hutongs

Hailed the next Nanluogu Xiang by the Global Times newspaper and many others, this small street has quietly entered Beijing’s hutong scene. Just a year ago, Wudaoying Hutong was a standard alley with very little pull for Beijing’s residents other than the popular Vineyard Café. Dongcheng District has influenced Beijing in terms of commerce, politics, trade, and culture for over 700 years, and Wudaoying’s cultural architecture make the perfect background to an impressive array of shops, cafes, restaurants and nightlife hotspots.

Pig Balance
This quirkily named store is run by the philosophy that every woman is looking for the comfortable life of a happy pig, and that they all are pursuing a balanced figure and beauty. It does well by its customers offering both vintage finds and the owner’s own designs, which combine to create a space choc-full of cute and classy apparel, with a twist of Chinese sex appeal. 11am-11pm 安定门内大街，五道营胡同63号 84035498

Dong Liang
Dong Liang Studio features chic clothing made by Chinese designers. The larger store to the north has high quality women’s fashion, along the ‘office wear with a twist’ vein. The smaller store has cheaper and more casual designs. Great for jackets, blouses and dresses with original cuts and lines that stand out from standard high street buys, and feel like your own piece of wearable couture. 11am- 11pm 安定门内大街，五道营胡同63A号64062337

Jmax
This compact shop sparkles with beautiful treasures hanging from the walls. It’s a great place to grab that one-off accessory to pull together any outfit, or to pick up a gorgeous gift for your girlfriend or wife. They also offer a ‘custom made’ service- be sure to ask them for more information when you visit. 1pm-10:30pm 安定门内大街，五道营胡同17-4号 13811914009

I.F
This small fashion boutique features women’s clothing, men’s shoes, an impressive selection of sunglasses, bags, jewelry, hats, plenty of trinkets and even a corner dedicated to CDs and model figurines. With a style that leans towards Korean fashion, you’re bound to find something you just can’t live without. 安定门内大街，五道营胡同53号 13552564699

Anyushi Home Décor
This shop is bursting with kitschy trinkets to trans¬form your house into a home, from ornamental ducks to floral coat hooks, jars and pots to picture frames and wicker storage solutions. Also worth mentioning is their rack of cute women’s clothing. This quaint little hutong store is bound to steal a piece of your heart. 安定门内大街，五道营胡同15号

Concertino
Filled to bursting point with notebooks of all shapes, colors and sizes, pens, postcards, paintbrush¬es and much, much more, this lovely little hutong shop has everything needed to inspire the artist in anyone! 安定门内大街，五道营胡同

Tiepihou Yeye
With vintage wind up toys, clothing bearing hanzi motifs and knick-knacks such as moneyboxes and enamel mugs bearing communist-inspired slogans, this shop is strongly reminiscent of a Nanluogu Xiang boutique. 铁皮猴爷爷 安定门内大街，五道营胡同9－2号13810752555

L’infusion
L’infusion café’s sister store (two doors down from the café itself) offers casual women’s clothing, beautiful jewelry, and lovely decorative items from lampshades and sparkly vases to floor cushions and clocks, as well as hand-knitted gloves and hats, and plenty of tempting trinkets to take home. 安定门内大街，五道营胡同53号 64076526

Brand Nu
Beijing’s first charity shop collects donations of clothing, trinkets and accessories, books and magazines to resell, recycle or reuse. All profits go to support the Rural Women Organization. Pick up second-hand goodies or browse their collection of minority-inspired linen and cotton laptop covers, hand sewn by a women’s group from China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation. Great for exotic yet affordable gifts at just RMB 40. Closed Mondays.安定门内大街，五道营胡同

Natooke
This fixed-gear bike shop has cycling accessories and parts, as well as a selection of juggling equipment imported from Europe, US and Asia. It provides a great place to catch your breath while chatting about urban cycling or juggling. They also organise regular juggling and bike events, outdoor and indoor activities, all along their juggling club and bike clubs which offer both performances and training. 安定门内大街，五道营胡同19-1号 84026925

Zig Zag
A small, funky salon offering manicures from RMB 68 (little princesses get their manicures for free), paraffin wax hand treatments for RMB 168 and pedicures from RMB 88, as well as massages and waxing. While these almost European prices can be beaten at other nail salons, the décor and atmosphere make this place a worthy treat: its quiet and intimate setting, and cozy lounges filled with natural light make it a great place for a preen and a pamper. 安定门内大街，五道营胡同52号 84040020

Sunkissed Tanning Studio
With imported German equipment and the best tanning lotions Beijing has to offer (including Australian Gold, California Tan, Designer Skin and Devoted Creations), this shop can help keep you glowing all winter long. Each non-member’s minute in the vertical bed will set you back RMB 8. Tues- Sun 11am-9pm 安定门内大街，五道营胡同65号 64064453

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