Beijing hutongs all have gray walls and gray tiles and seem to be the same if you view them from outside. In fact, they differ from one another, and so it is worth visiting them one by one. In the past Beijing hutongs were the residences of average civilians but have become stories today. Nearly everyone traveling to Beijing has the wish to tour these antique alleys, and so it is necessary to disclose the stories behind their names. Some hutongs really impress tourists, because of their odd names. You might as well have a look at them.

Bai Hua Shen Chu (百花深处: The Depth of the Flowers): The Most Romantic Hutong

In the history of Beijing, it is said a couple bought a patch of field at Xinjiekou NanXiaojie (新街口南小街) in the late Ming Dynasty and grew vegetables there. Since then, they had planted trees, dug ponds and built rockeries and pavilions in their filed. Later, they planted peony, lotus and other kinds flowers. Gradually more and more people visited this garden, and so it was named “Bai Hua Shen Chu”. In the 15th year of Emperor Qianlong’s reign, its named was changed to Hua Ju Hutong (花局胡同: Flower Bureau Hutong) and this hutong became a place exclusively used for planting flowers. Its name wasn’t changed back to Bai Hua Shen Chu until the 11th year of Emperor Guangxu’s reign in the late Qing Dynasty.

Touring this hutong, you cannot only have a look at this amazing hutong, but you can also have the chance to taste the delicious foods this area offers, including glutinous rice cake, tea soup, Baodu (爆肚) and so on. At the same time you can also pay a visit to the souvenir shops around this area.

Add: The governing area of Shachahai Street, Xicheng District, Beijing (begins from Huguo Temple East Alley in the east and ends at Xinjiekou South Street) 北京市西城区什刹海街道辖域，东起护国寺东巷，西至新街口南大街