Blog Tag - Hutongs

Modernista Celebrates Thirteen Years in Beijing
There is a certain chapter of Beijing's urban history known as "The Great Brickening". If these words elicit an immediate response in you…congrats,...
Places to Eat & Drink on Hongxing Hutong
This small hutong, whose name literally translates to Red Star Hutong, lies just above Dongdan and not far from the Forbidden City and Tian’anmen....
Mandarin Monday: A History of the Word "Hutong"
Ever wondered why hutongs are called hutongs, and not, just plain old alley or lane? Well, if any 胡同串子 hútong chuànzi (hutong wanderer) among you...
Gulou and Angingmen’s Best Rooftops and Terraces
A few weeks back we took a look at the best rooftops and terraces around Sanlitun and Gongti and now we’re moving on to the hutongs around Gulou and...
A Few Last Minute Xmas Markets and a Bar Crawl
It’s only five days until Christmas, so if you’ve left all your gift shopping until the last minute, now’s the time to do it! Thankfully, there are a...
Experience a Different Kind of Christmas Market at Gulou Factory, Dec 2
If you’ve missed the chance to score tickets to the big German and British Christmas Markets happening this weekend – tickets for the latter sold out...
South of Front Gate: Darkroom Café and Other Qianmen Gems
Going south from Qianmen, aka Zhengyangmen – or north up to the gate if you’re strolling along the Central Axis – you’ll stumble across a few artery-...
Beijing's Five Architectural Colors, and the Symbolism Behind Them
It sometimes seems like the dominant color in Beijing is “Socialist Taupe.” The streets. The bricks. The roads. Getting away from the gray and the...
Beijing’s Best Rooftops and Terraces Pt. 3
Anyone who stayed in the capital over the Dragon Boat Festival holiday will know that summer has hit Beijing with vengeance. Despite the heat, I for...
Beijing’s Best Rooftops and Terraces Pt.2
Looking outside the Beijinger's office window at the beautiful weather today I can’t help but wish I was on a rooftop or terrace basking in the...
Discover Tai'anli: Beijing's New Art and Culture Hub in the Hutong CBD
In Shanghai there is 石库门 shíkùmén -- two-story brick and wood buildings with sloped roofs -- and in Beijing there is 四合院 sìhéyuàn -- rectangular...
Art Meets Architecture: An Exhibition in a Redesigned Hutong Abode
Earlier this year we wrote about a courtyard house in the hutongs redesigned and redeveloped using German sustainability principles. The house –...
3 Places with The Most Romantic Names in Beijing
There are many places in Beijing with unique names. Some were named after nearby landmarks, others were named after food, animals, or even famous...
Hutong Hunter: Hit Up These Hutong Brewpubs for an Andingmen to Beixinqiao Bar Crawl
Take a deep dive into the places, people, shindigs and more to be found in the hutongs of Dongcheng, Xicheng and Qianmen with the Hutong Hunter....
Hutong Hunter: Come to Peking Yard for a Courtyard Staycation, Stay for the Wagyu Burger
Take a deep dive into the places, people, shindigs and more to be found in the hutongs of Dongcheng, Xicheng and Qianmen with the Hutong Hunter. A...