A China tour is incomplete without a wander through the ancient city alleyways or hutongs that symbolize the historic city of Beijing in the minds of many tourists who've made China travel their favorite pastime. Indeed, it is not hard at all to see why numerous China tours either begin or end there, for there are few better places to discover the soul of Chinese urban life. Originally a large number of hutongs were built around the Forbidden City, mainly during the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties that spanned the centuries between the years 1206 and 1908. In the prime of the power the Emperors arranged the hutongs in accordance with etiquette, so that the most important citizens lived closest to Forbidden City.
The Hutong Story
Most hutongs consisted of four houses arranged in a rectangular structure around a courtyard that provided both a measure of intimacy for family members as well as a degree of mutual privacy and protection. The houses as well as the courtyards varied in size according to wealth and status – the homes built for ordinary folk were simple with low ceilings, while the minor aristocracy and high ranking officials enjoyed large and ornately decorated living rooms.
As China came under foreign influence following the collapse of the Qing dynasty the formal regulation of the hutongs disappeared - many new ones showed little resemblance to traditional design and the social order of allocation began to break down too. Following the period of decay that lead to the formation of the People's Republic of China in 1949, many overpopulated hutongs were demolished, and, with them, a historic part of old Imperial China vanished for ever.
When on a China tour and indulging in a little China travel through the older parts of Beijing near the Forbidden City you will meet many other tourists enjoying their China tours too. If you are able to, try to flee this hustle and bustle, and retire to one of the traditional hutong eateries for some delicious traditional hutong food.
Out and About in Beijing's Hutong District
No China travel experience can ever be complete without a visit to one of the excellent eating houses that line the hutongs around the Forbidden City. Indeed, can any China tour be complete without it, or should any China tours be considered that don't offer this superb opportunity. I personally recommend that you try one of the simpler eating houses, where you will rub shoulders with the locals and may also be able to try one of the following local dishes:
Peking Roast Duck with super succulent flash and perfect crispy skin, first flavored with secret family spices and then roasted over fruit tree wood for extra taste.
Especially in winter, when the weather does get cold, slices of mutton boiled in the spicy broth and served with fresh vegetables.
These and several other traditional Chinese specialties are found in grand hotels included in expensive China tours. For me, though, the epitome of China travel is usually to be found in simpler things that turn a China tour into a genuine experience.
Author Resource:
Asia Classic Tours provide value-driven, high-quality China tour packages and customized China travel itineraries. Visit www.asiaclassictours.com and win a free 5-day/4-night to the Great Wall of China.
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