Beijing Imperial City Free Walking Tour

Meeting guide at the metro station: line 8 or Line 6 Nan luo gu xiang station exit E.

If you take Didi to the meeting point please put it in Didi App: 南锣鼓巷地铁站E口. (If you would like to take Didi Please leave the hotel a little bit early due to the bad traffic in Beijing)

Highlights of the tour:
* Nan luo gu xiang lane
* Former Residence of Qing Dynasty Empress
* Former Residence of the President of the Republic of China
* Dou jiao Hutong
* fangzhuanchang Hutong
* Houhai Lake(Shichahai lake)
* Houhai lake Bar street
* Smoking pipe street

* Mao'er Hutong
* Xiaoshibei Hutong
* Dashibei Hutong
* Drum tower(outside visit)
* Bell tower(outside visit)

Why visit these places? Because they are more authentic and Non-touristy.

There's one of the best local dumplings restaurant for lunch or dinner after the tour.(good for Vegetarian too)

There are a lot of places you could visit after the tour(10-15 minutes walking) such as Forbidden City &  Lama temple & Confucian temple & Jingshan park & Beihai park.

During the visit, you will learn about the origin and meaning of Hutongs, the layout of Beijing City during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the rise and fall of Hutongs, the lifestyle of Beijing residents in hutongs, the mysteries behind the gates of traditional courtyards, the feng shui of courtyard layouts, and why there is such a large wealth gap in hutongs? Hutong is both a rich area and a slum. Visit the former residence of the president of the Republic of China. Visit Wanrong's former residence to learn about the story of the last emperor Puyi and empress in Chinese history, the origin of the public toilets in Hutong, the most famous Zhajiangmian in Beijing Hutongs, the famous bar street in Beijing, the favorite mythical animal in Hutongs, and the oldest way to tell the time in Beijing and so on.

A trip to Nanluogixiang lane brings you back to the Yuan Dynasty when the earliest houses along Nanluoguxiang started to be built. Nanluoguxiang lane is lined with numerousyummy restaurants, unique hostels, lively themed stores. Its vernacular courtyard houses, grey-colored, accompanied by old trees, showcase the solid books of Beijing's traditional architecture.

Continue to feel Beijing long history by walking along Mao'er Hutong. It is a very famous alley among the 25 surviving hutongs protected areas in Beijing.

There are many famous buildings and character stories in Mao'er Hutong. Stop at "Empress's Mansion" for pictures which is the former residence of the last Chinese emperor Puyi's empress Wanrong.
In addition Beiyang warlord or The Fourth President of the Republic of China Feng Guozhang also lived in this alley. ‌

Visiting a narrow channel joining Qianhai Lake and the Houhai Lake, the hub of Shichahai area with surrounding quiet bars.

Heading to "Smoking Pipe Street" most of the dwellers in this area had a fondness for smoking pipe tobacco. Because of the increasing demand for tobacco, the street saw tobacco shops opening up one by one for business.

Last stop is Drum Tower and Bell Tower(outside visit). It served as the ancient city's time-telling tower. With the development of history, the functions of the Bell and Drum Towers have continually changed.

Free tours don't have a set price, each person tips the guide at the end of the tour. Based on the cost of living in Beijing the recommended tip is 150-200 Chinese yuan per person or 17-24 Euros per person depending on your satisfaction.