Beijing hutong culture experience

Beijing hutong is one of the most valuable historic relics from the ancient time. And flying a kite is a very local activity in Beijing. If you can fly a kite in one of the hutongs in Beijing, you will find the joys among Beijing locals.

 

The hutong around Houhai hardly lack for visiting footsteps coming off the nearby tourist attractions, and Nanguanfang Hutong is particularly cherished by visitors to the area. Given the name Nanguanfang, the south official assembly house, it used to be a residential zone for the officials who moved here from other cities, today it's one of the most popular places to experience the original hutong culture.

 

Hutong fans must understand that any sudden visit to a private siheyuan can be inappropriate as that is the same as walking into a privately owned garden without the owner's permission. But at No. 39, you can step in and see a traditional courtyard. The siheyuan has been an accessible attraction since it opened in 2008 during the Beijing Olympic Games, and people from all over the world visit to see what's behind the door.

 

No. 39 is a small siheyuan, but the owner has tried to fill it with as much local flavor as possible. For 20 yuan, you can come in and see stone tables and chairs, caged birds, and randomly, a wooden shelf full of plastic grapes. In the main hall is a table full of snuff bottles, and the bedroom is furnished in a traditional style. For a lark, you can also rent costumes and take pictures as an emperor or empress. The owner, a 40-year-old woman surnamed Chen, says her siheyuan sees hundreds of tourists each day, most of whom are Chinese from other cities.

 

Further to the west, No. 12 is a private kite workshop in a storefront on the lane where the 61-year-old Wang Chifeng teaches classes about kites. For the past seven years Wang has operated out of this store, teaching about Chinese kite culture and making kites that look like eagles, dragons, gold fish, swallows and other traditional kite shapes. His work can often be seen flying over the city, and according to Wang they represent an integral part of the city's culture.

 

"This is not a simple toy that flies," said Wang, pointing to a kite that looks like an eagle. "Everything about it, from painting, material selecting, designing and flying are all filled with the wisdom of our previous generations."