Hutong tours started a decade ago. Today, there are three major Hutong routes scattered over the east, west and Xuanwu district of Beijing, where the government has centralised the tour companies to handle tourists.
Beijing's hutongs, lanes or alleys formed by lines of siheyuan (a compound with houses around a courtyard) where old Beijing residents live, witness the vicissitude of the city.
The word "hutong" originates from the word "hottog" which means "well" in Mongolian. Villagers dig out a well and inhabited there. Hutong means a lane or alley, in fact the passage formed by lines of siheyuan (a compound with houses around a courtyard) where old Beijing residents live. Be care not to get lost in it! It was recorded that in the Yuan a 36-meter-wide blind hutongs cul-de-sacs. The gray-tiled houses and deep alleys crossing with each other in identical appearance like a maze, you will find it much fun to walk through but be care not to lost yourself.
