Hutong Culture

In the same way that the Forbidden City is the symbol of China's royal family, the winding Hutongs in Beijing represent the way of life of the common people. They are at the root of the local people's way of life. Beijing City is like a boxy bean curd or a chess board with each hutong lying due north to due south or due east to due west. This square layout not only influences Beijinger's way of living, but also influences their thoughts and actions.

The names of them are all-embracing and various and relate to their location, origin or history, such as Lumicang, Fuxue, and Gongyuan hutongs, which were named by official organizations. Those examples named by craftsmen and ordinary people include: 'earthenware pot Liu (now Dashaguo) Hutong', maybe there once lived a Mr. Liu who sold earthenware pots. Those who were named by their market trade include Xianyu Kou Hutong (Fish street), for it once was the place where fish was sold. There are also those which bear the names of horses and mules because these animals were once traded there. Some take their name from special landmarks, such as Stone Tiger, Iron Lion and Cypress hutongs. Their names are regarded as important materials when researching Beijing culture.
 

A narrow hutong

People are pleased with their easy life in Siheyuan (the courtyard distributed orderly). They live a peaceful and harmonious life in these small "boxes", away from the hustle and bustle of the streets outside. Their daily needs could be fully satisfied by hawkers who sold vegetables, eggs, fruits, and snacks. In the past, they could even get their hair cut by the itinerant barbers without walking out of their neighbourhood to find a barber shop. The winding and narrow Hutongs were heaven for children playing games. They would have played rubber-band skipping, kicking shuttlecocks, and hide-and-seek. Even in modern times, young boys get together and hold football matches in these narrow lanes. Those who live in them love their way of life so much that it is often described by the Chinese as a culture of happiness and harmony.

However, the love of this way of life can become a burden for some Hutong-dwellers. Because many people have never known anything outside, they can be reluctant to move house. People have been known to live in the same Hutong for decades, until the foundations are too weak to hold the weight of the house and until the roof allows rain in. But for these people, their house still had value because they loved the way of life that had lived there. In this insular environment, people live simply and happily but are unwilling to change.

A beef shop in hutong Business people in Hutong

Further Reading:
Top 10 Cool Things to Do in Beijing for Youngsters
8 Interesting Places in Beijing You May Not Know
- Last updated on Aug. 16, 2024 by Gabby Li -
Questions & Answers on Beijing Hutong Culture
Asked by Eugenia from FINLAND | Sep. 22, 2020 15:21Reply
Finnish alien passport to China
Hello, my husband has Finnish alien passport and Finnish residence permit. Can he get Chinese tourist visa? What additional documents (if necessary) he needs to provide? Will it be the same cost as for Finnish citizens?
Thank you,
Best regards, Eugenia
Answers (1)
Answered by Phoebe | Sep. 24, 2020 02:09
00Reply


Current, it's not possible to get Chinese tourist visas.
Asked by Jie Yao from UNITED STATES | Jul. 16, 2020 15:39Reply
Can we transit flight from HEL Finland airport to Shanghai China?
we are Chinese citizen and US green-card Holder, now we are planning to purchase a ticket flights from Boston to Shanghai China which summary itinerary as below. My question is can we transit from HEL to Shanghai china?

Flight 1 of 3BOS - JFK
Flight 2 of 3JFK - HEL
Flight 3 of 3HEL - PVG

I would like appreciate if I can get your answers.

Best,
Answers (1)
Answered by Irene from USA | Jul. 19, 2020 23:02
00Reply


Dear, I think it's fine.
Asked by Jie Yao from UNITED STATES | Jul. 16, 2020 15:35Reply
We Chinese citizen and can we transit from Finland airport to china on 9/10/2020 by America Airline?
we are Chinese citizen and US green-card Holder, now we are planning to purchase a ticket flights from Boston to Shanghai China which summary itinerary as below. My queston is can we transit from HEL to Shanghai china?

BOS - JFK
Flight 1 of 3JFK - HEL
Flight 2 of 3HEL - PVG

I would like appreciate if I can get your answers.

Best,
Answers (1)
Answered by Edward from UNITED KINGDOM | Jul. 19, 2020 23:01
00Reply


Sorry, you had better ask your airline about this. The situation changes so fast, no one can get a trustworthy real-time answer.
Asked by Nhi Nguyen from FINLAND | Nov. 19, 2019 09:14Reply
Vietnamese in Finland
Hi, I am a Vietnamese living in Finland with a residence permission, so what type of visa do I need to apply for to travel to China, and how long does it usually take? I would like to visit China at the end of January and beginning of February. Thanks!
Answers (1)
Answered by Rachel from FINLAND | Nov. 19, 2019 19:19
00Reply


If you travel for tourism purpose, you need to apply for a tourist L visa. It usually takes four working days to process visa.
Asked by Yenny from FINLAND | Sep. 16, 2019 02:10Reply
Hei i have Indonesia passport, my husband and my kids Finland passports
we will traveling Helsinki to japan but transit to Shanghai around 8 h and we want try out from immigration and walk in outside around 5 h, what the visa we must make because only short time
Answers (1)
Answered by Roger from UNITED KINGDOM | Sep. 16, 2019 19:06
00Reply


You don't need a visa for that, for you are eligible for the 24-hour visa free transit. You could apply a 24-hour visa-free entry permit upon arrival at the Shanghai airport before leaving the airport for a short sightseeing of the city.
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