1-Day Beijing Hutong Tour

A Walk into Old Beijing

Hutong is the local word for any of the imperial-era alleys where the traditional residential houses of old Beijing are located. At the back of the Forbidden City, there is a well-preserved old district where you can see hutongs and typical courtyard houses.

A hutong is a place where you can immerse yourself in memories of the old Beijing. They are charming places where you can learn about the traditional lifestyle and the culture heritage.

During this 1-day Beijing hutong tour, you will explore the historical and cultural sites of the hutongs, visit a family living in a courtyard house, and stroll along the oldest commercial alley in Beijing.

Tour 'Wow' Points

Discover the Most Honorable Temple

Hear about why Emperor Qianlong (1711–99) turned Prince Mansion into a Tibetan Buddhist Temple and discover the treasures there.

Chat with Folks in their Courtyard Homes

Walk into a family's houses in a hutong. Learn about the features of the old residential houses in Beijing and get a glimpse of the typical lifestyle in the hutong.

Stroll along the Old Alley

Immerse yourself in the memories of the old Beijing, which is cherished in hutong. Taste authentic Beijing from its famous snack sold in the alley.

Climb up the Drum Tower

Travel back to medieval Beijing times with the sounds of a classical drum performance as well as exploring this classical building.

Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.

7 day Beijing trip with China Highlights We were in Beijing for 7 days and went to the Great Wall, Gubei Watertown, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Lama Temple, Beihai Park, Confucius Temple, Ming and Qing Tombs. Also went to watch the Acrobatic Show and the Golden Mask Show. The views are fantastic and the shows are amazing. Our tour guide, Colin, from China Highlights was awesome. He planned our itinerary flawlessly and took us to restaurants that served great authentic local food. Colin is very caring of my elderly mother and provided superb service. Thank you, Colin, for making my trip memorable. more Mar 2025, Adrene

Best tour guide ever Extremely delighted with my Beijing tours. I was so fortunate to get Mark as my guide. and Hang to patiently drive us everywhere.Mark is extremely knowledgeable. witty and caring. Hang is sweet and mindful of my age. I am also grateful to Leaky of China highlights for planning an incredible itinerary for me. more Mar 2025, Pope Kavita Michelle

A day in Beijing with Jiang We had a day trip to visit the Great Wall and Forbidden City. Our guide Jiang organised all our transportation, ticketing and food needs, such that we did not have to worry about a thing. Jiang also spoke fluent English and was passionate about sharing the history behind the Great Wall and Forbidden City which we explored for 3 hours each on foot. more Mar 2025, Bryan

Itinerary Quick Look

Here is a suggested itinerary. We are happy to customize a tour according to your interests. The time frame is just for your reference. It could be different due to the traffic on the day.