High-rise buildings and shopping malls are littered throughout Beijing. But smaller, less visible buildings in the alleys of this modern metropolis are an indispensable part of the city: the hutongs.

The gray-tiled old houses and alleys give a wonderful glimpse into traditional Beijing lifestyle and culture. People play, chat, eat and relax together in the hutongs, painting the picture of a lifestyle that is much different from life in the city's high-rise apartments.

Tourists from all around the world pour into the Chinese capital not only to experience the city's modern attractions, but also its old imperial palaces and traditional culture. The old courtyards and hutongs should never be missed. What do people think of hutongs before they visit them? And how do their ideas change afterward? In the series conclusion, we asked seven different visitors to walk us through their first hutong experience.

 

Related readings:

Deep in the Hutongs Part I: The old Beijingers	Deep in the Hutongs - Part2: Migrant workers	Deep in the Hutongs - Part3: The foreigners