One may find Beijing adorable in each season, and when winter comes, Beijing is characterized by vigor, clarity, simplicity, magnificence as well as enchantment.

▶ Bell and Drum Towers—Shichahai—Prince Kung's Mansion—Yandaixiejie (Yandai Bypass)—Bell and Drum Towers—Wudaoying Hutong—Guozijian Street

The most distinctive and interesting way to visit Beijing is to stroll around the hutongs while the best way to visit the hutongs is to ride a bicycle and shuttle to and fro the winding hutongs, through which one can find the most beautiful and authentic scenery of the city.

Starting from the Di'anmen Outer Street, you will see one of the landmark buildings of the ancient capital—the Bell and Drum Towers.

Go south along the Bell and Drum Towers, and you can reach the Yandaixiejie, the oldest bypass in Beijing. Located in front of the Drum Tower, north of Di'anmen, Yandaixiejie is about 230 meters in length. The bypass is extraordinarily bustling with distinctive small shops, restaurants, and bars.

Out of the bypass is the famous Yinding (Silver Ingot) Bridge. It is said that if it is sunny, one can see the distant West Mountain on the bridge, which is one of Yanjing's eight views—“View the Mountain from Silver Ingot Bridge”.

Besides the Yinding Bridge, the hutongs around Shichahai is also worthy of rambling. Along the meandering Shichahai there are irregular but dense hutongs, terrain-wise and naturally formed. Here, a random walk through a humble courtyard door will allow you to trace the history.

Then go to one of Beijing's oldest neighborhoods, now the busiest and fashionable Nanluoguxiang, and buy some snacks. Of course, it would give you much pleasure to avoid the crowded main road and explore the narrow hutongs on both sides.

Finally, eat Fermented Bean Drink, crisply fried rings of dough, pickled vegetables …Cabbage Mound with Mustard and Ma tofu in Jiumen Hutong, where the authentic Beijing delicacy is for you to taste.