The Hutong, an old-style city alley or lane, is one of the most distinctive features and must-see attractions in Beijing. There are thousands of hutongs in the city, many of which were built during the Yuan (1206-1368), Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Here, China.org.cn lists the top 10 most famous hutongs all travelers to the capital city shouldn't miss in order to get a better experience of the unique culture of ancient Beijing. photo gallery>>
Bada Hutong
Bada Hutong, located in the Xicheng District, literally means the "eight great" hutongs. [tripdv. com] |
During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Bada Hutong was notorious as the city's biggest "red light district", housing more than 2,000 brothels. The structure of each brothel varied, and all were different from ordinary houses. After 1949, many brothels were turned into hotels and/or residences.
Travel tips:
Surrounding attractions: Dashila, Qianmen Street, Liulichang
Getting there: Bus 5, 23, 34, 48, 57, 715 to Hufangqiaolukoudong.