Travel in China
The liveliest of Beijing's 740-year-old hutong lanes - a 787-metre corridor of grey courtyard walls, snack stalls and boutiques.
Nanluoguxiang (South Gong and Drum Lane) is one of Beijing's oldest hutongs, laid out in the Yuan dynasty (13th century) as part of the grid that still defines the old city. The 787-metre lane runs north-south through the medieval quarter, its grey-brick walls hiding over 700 years of residential life.
The lane's transformation began in the 1990s when cafes and craft shops moved into the courtyard houses. Today it is a pedestrian street lined with boutiques, snack stalls, craft-beer bars and theme cafes, while the sixteen hutongs branching east and west retain their original residential character.
Nanluoguxiang is best experienced as a wander - stroll the main lane for shops and snacks, then duck into the side alleys to find the real hutong life. The area is also home to several notable courtyard residences and the Central Academy of Drama.
Highlights
The Main Lane
787 metres of snack stalls, craft shops and boutiques in converted courtyard houses.
Side Hutong Alleys
Sixteen hutongs branching east and west (eight on each side) - quiet residential lanes with real old-Beijing life.
Courtyard Gates
Carved brick gates of former officials' residences with drum stones and door gods.
Central Academy of Drama
China's most famous drama school gives the area a youthful, theatrical energy.
Hutong Cafes and Bars
Craft-beer bars and live-music venues hidden in the courtyards.
Mao Dun's Former Residence
The courtyard home of the novelist, preserved as a small museum.
Photo Gallery
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