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Home Travel in Beijing Travel Guide in Nanluogu Xiang
Travel Guide in Nanluogu Xiang
Travel in Beijing

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Recently the popularity of Nanluogu Xiang (nán luó gǔ xiàng 南锣鼓巷) hutong area has increased noticeably with tourist numbers on the rise following the complete refurbishment of the district in time for the 2008 Olympic Games. Many tourists enjoy taking ride through this 800-year-old hutong that was once home to celebrities, officials, artists and well-off families. There are well over 20 restaurants and 40 shops scattered along Nanluogu Xiang. People seeking a travel experience different to that available from many hotels may like to try some of the cheap hotels or youth hotels in the area.

 

 

General Introduction


nanluoguxiangroofNanluogu Xiang is a residential district in Beijing, which is also very close to the Forbidden City (zǐ jìn chéng 紫禁城). It has a history of 700 years. Compared with the red wall of the Forbidden City, the gray wall of Hutong, Siheyuan in Nanluogu Xiang creates an atmosphere of common people. This district has a rich cultural background: it is the central district of Yuan Dadu (yuán dà dū 元大都), the gathering district of celebrities in Ming (míng dài 明代) and Qing (qīng dài 清代) dynasty, and one of the districts in which Siheyuan has been best preserved.

Nanluogu Xiang has a length of 800 meters. And 16 hutongs besides it in the east and west, orderly.  The 8 hutongs in the east are Chao Dou Hutong, Ban Chang Hutong, Dong Mian Hua Hutong, Bei Bing Ma Si Hutong, Qin Lao Hutong, Qian Yuan En Si Hutong, Hutong, Hou Yuan En Si Hutong, Ju Er Hutong, Yu Er Hutong. The other 8 hutongs in the west are Fu Xiang Hutong, Suo Yi Hutong, Yu Er Hutong, Mao Er Hutong, Jing Yang Hutong, Sha Jing Hutong, Hei Zhi Ma Hutong, Qian Gu Lou Yuan Hutong. All of them have no exact names until Ming Dynasty. The whole district is just like a centipede, so the hutongs are also called the centipede streets.

 

Features


There are lots of local people who born in Beijing live in here. They are all warm-hearted ones capable of veritable dialects of Beijing. When you travel here, it will make you feel that Nanluogu Xiang is the symbol of Beijing. And those who come here could always find stores, cafes or bars of their own styles, because all of them are so different with each other. In recent years, not only Chinese, but also more and more foreigners begin to own their business here.


nanluoguxiangnightIf you visit Nanluogu Xiang at night, you will be a lucky dog. Views at that time have a totally fascinating change. All of the stores and cafes will run their distinctive lighting, and form beautiful scenery: the harmony of modern areas in a traditional district. Maybe it is such a special sense that makes the visitors begin to smile and talk with each other, although they know nothing about each other before.


For people who want to taste the feeling of being a citizen of a city modern and historical at the same time, Nanluogu Xiang is the best choice.

 

Attractions


Wards in Chang An (cháng ān 长安) in Tang Dynasty (táng dài 唐代) have disappeared, and most of the wards of Yuan Dadu have totally changed during the 800 years, too. However, Nanluogu Xiang has preserved some of the wards of Yuan Dadu very well. Hutong are completely preserved, and the Siheyuan in Hutong are similar but different. Thus, Nanluogu Xiang becomes a historical treasure of Beijing.


Maoer Hutong (mào ér hú tóng 帽儿胡同)
maoerhutongMao'er Hutong is generally translated as Hat or Hat Maker Lane. The area dates from the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) when it was called the Wenchang Gong, a Taoist temple honouring the spirit belonging to the sixth of China's 28 constellations. The current name came into usage during the succeeding Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).Maoer Hutong ranks NO.4 in the top ten Hutong of Beijing. It is not as quiet as other old alleys. Many travelers come to visit here because it used to be home of Queen Wan Rong (huáng hòu wǎn róng 皇后婉容) in Qing Dynasty. Maoer Hutong is often called the noblest Hutong in Nanluogu Xiang.
 

Location: from Nanluogu Xiang in the east to Dianmenwai Street (dì ān mén wài dà jiē 地安门外大街) in the west.
Admission fee: free

 

yuerhutongYuer Hutong (yǔ ér hú tóng 雨儿胡同)
Yuer Hutong becomes famous because the most brilliant Chinese painter Qi Baishi (qí bái shí 齐白石) once lived here. The home of Qi Baishi is taken over for use by the Chinese Artists Association now. Although Mr. Qi does not live in here anymore, the place once belonged to him is preserved well by CAA.


Location:
from Nanluogu Xiang in the east to Dongbuyaqiao Hutong (dōng bú yā qiáo 东不压桥胡同) in the west.
Admission fee: free
 

Juer Hutong (jú ér hú tóng  菊儿胡同)
juerhutongJuer Hutong is in the north of Nanluogu Xiang. It is famous for the country yard housing project held by the famous architect Wu Liangyong. The project is honored "Asian Architecture Golden Prize" by the Asian Architecture Association in 1992, and "The street fits living" in 1993. The Ju'er Hutong Courtyard Housing Project is pioneering a new approach to urban renewal in the heart of Beijing. Traditional courtyard housing is being restored and improved, avoiding the need for wholesale demolition of historic but dilapidated inner-city housing. Equally importantly the project seeks to bring about a new approach to the funding and planning of housing provision within historic cities.

Location: in the north of Nanluogu Xiang
Admission fee: free


jiangjieshixingyuanJiang Jieshi Field Headquarters (jiǎng jiè shí xíng yuán 蒋介石行辕)
The Jiang Jieshi Field Headquarters is a combination of western and Chinese culture: it has both siheyuan, western house, and garden. It is used to be the home of a prince in Qing Dynasty. There are pavilion, fountain, and stones from Winter Palace. It has been sold to French. However, after the war between China and Japan, it became the field headquarter of Jiang Jieshi. And once it was Yugoslavia embassy, Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and now Friendship Hotel.


Location:
Yuanensi Hutong (yuán ēn sì hú tóng 园恩寺胡同) 7#
Admission fee: free


Former Residence of Mao Dun (máo dùn gù jū 茅盾故居)
maodungujvCompared with other Siheyuan in Nanluogu Xiang, the former residence of Mao Dun is so ordinary. Mao Dun, who is one of the most eminent and infuential writers in China, lived here during his last 7 years. Entering the front courtyard of the quadrangle, one is met with a screen wall inlaid with a marble plaque that carries an inscription written by the wife of late premier Zhou Enlai, Deng Yingchao: "Mao Dun Gu Ju," or "the Former Residence of Mao Dun." The houses surrounding the front courtyard are sitting rooms and libraries. There are also two rooms used to display Mao's biography and some 400 mementos, including his manuscripts, letters, and literature periodicals. In the center of the courtyard is a square grape trellis, which Mao equipped with a swing. He often played here with his granddaughter.

Address: Houyuanensi Hutong (hòu yuán ēn sì hú tóng 后园恩寺胡同) 13#
Opening hours: every Thursday, Tuesday, Saturday
Admission fee: CNY 5
 

prince seng mansionPrince Seng Mansion (sēng wáng fǔ 僧王府)
The first Hutong you may see in the eastern Nanluogu Xiang is called Chaodou Hutong (chǎo dòu hú tong 炒豆胡同). Prince Seng Mansion is located in here. Senggelinqin, the owner of the mansion, is good at fighting in the 19th Century. Thus, he is a very famous prince at that time. The Prince Seng Mansion is very huge: it crosses Chaodou Hutong and Banchang Hutong (bǎn chǎng hú tóng 板厂胡同). Such a scale is rare in the Qing Dynasty. And such a peaceful and antique Siheyuan is rare in Beijing, too.

Address: Nanluogu Xiang Banchang Hutong 30#
Admission fee: free



Eating in Nanluogu Xiang


zamoZa Mo (zā mō 咂摸)---Chinese pizza
Foreign friends wearing T-shirts with Chinese cuisine on them are everywhere in China, just like restaurants which combines Chinese cuisine with western pizza are everywhere in Nanluogu Xiang. Chinese pizzas are representative of them all. Pizzas of Kung Pao chicken (gōng bǎo jī dīng 宫保鸡丁), double cooked pork (huí guō ròu 回锅肉), and Beijing duck (běi jīng kǎo yā 北京烤鸭) are all eye-catching ones.

Location: Nanluogu Xiang 106#

 

kao rou renKao Rou Ren (kǎo ròu rén 烤肉人)---Barbecue
A sign says "Kiss for 10 seconds, got on free oxtongue" is very well-known in Nanluogu Xiang. Lots of young people choose the restaurant with this sign as the place for a reunion. This is the famous Japanese-style barbecue---Kao Rou Ren. If you take a look at the wall full of kiss pictures, you will know who popular the restaurant is. The meat used for barbecue in Kao Rou Ren are various, every section of beef and pork is included. And ways of cutting and eating the meat  are also various according to the preference of customers. Waiters here are so easy-going that they are able to make friends with most of the customers.

 Location: Nanluogu Xiang Heizhima Hutong (hēi zhī má hú tóng  黑芝麻胡同)


guo keGuo Ke (guò kè 过客)---flax tea with milk

Guo Ke is one of the most famous restaurants in Nanluogu Xiang, and it is also the so-called "the first restaurant" in Nanluogu Xiang. The wooden sign, the yard full of sunshine, and the wall full of books, the pictures taken in Tibet are all reflections of the owner's taste and experience. Pizza of mutton string and flax tea with milk are very popular here. Others cuisines are also very tasty. If you come here, you can make a lot of new friends from different countries. You may choose to enjoy your food in the open stage on the second floor.

Location: Nanluogu Xiang 108#
 

xiao xin de dianXiao Xin De Dian (xiǎo xīn de diàn 小新的店)---cheese cake
Everyone likes to cherish the past would be attracted to the Xiao Xin De Dian. It is a single-story house of grey, and orange light penetrates from the red wooden window. The two sofas in the front-yard remind you of 80s in the last century. The store is not very big. And sofas and chairs inside divide the store into several independent spaces. The owner of it is young and shy. However, once he was hero of several famous cafes in Beijing. After he has gained enough experience and skill in those cafes, he decided to run his own business---Xiao Xin De Dian. Cheese cake, Tiramisù, and fruit pizza are the recommended specialty here.

Location: Nanluogu Xiang 103#


Xi Que (xǐ què 喜鹊)---Chinese-style cafe

xi queCafes of Chinese-style are very charming since they embody the combination of western and Chinese culture. Old furnitures, although not very elegant, remind you of the life several decades ago in China. As the most common cafes in western countries, Chinese-style cafes here enables you enjoy the relaxing time with your friends.

 Location: Nanluogu Xiang 101#
 

wen yuWen Yu (wén yǔ 文宇)---cheese
This is the most famous snack in Nanluogu Xiang. Different with the western cheese, Wen Yu has its own way to make tradtional Chinese cheese. Double peel milk is one of the most popular cheese sold here. It has an enriched flavour of milk, which is very refreshing. Wenyu is famous for the tasty cheese among young people in Beijing. However, the store so small that everytime you have to line up everytime you go there.

Location: Nanluogu Xiang 49#



Shopping in Nanluogu Xiang


zai bie chuZai Bie Chu (zài bié chù 在别处)---creative commune
Shops here are mainly creative communes sell hand-made toys, decorations, bags and other interesting things. For example, the famous cloth cat named “Happy Chen” is sold in a store named Zai Bie Chu . However, the store often opens at night because the owner cares nothing about the profits, but a kind of cool attitude toward the world.

Location: Nanluogu Xiang 7#

 

chuang ke tieChuang Ke Tie (chuàng kě tiē 创可贴)---creative T-shirts
The famous T-shirt of Chuang Ke Tie, is the one with the paper-made ticket of Beijing subway on it. As this one, T-shirts in this store have many themes about daily life in the city. Thus, they remind people of the happy time they used to have. And most of them are limitations sold out quickly. The owner of Chuang Ke Tie is a British guy named Dominic. Up to now, he has run three chain stores in Beijing and another three in other places of China.

Location: Nanluogu Xiang 61#

 


jing xiuJing Xiu (jīng xiù 京绣)---Beijing embroidery
Beijing embroidery is the name of all embroidery industry take Beijing as the center. It is often used in the clothes and decorations of Chinese emperor. The main character of it is colorfulness. The materials of Beijing embroidery is very precise, magnificent, precious in order to achieve the sense of noble. 

Location: Nanluogu Xiang Fu Xiang Hutong (fú xiáng hú tóng 福祥胡同) 1#

 

cheng jiaCheng Jia (chéng jiā  成家)---Chinese-style clothes
There are shops selling Chinese-style clothes in Nanluogu Xinag. Although the clothes are not very cheap, they are worth buying due to the representation of Chinese culture. Clothes are often hand-made, and have a strong sense of native people living in ancient China.

Location: Nanluogu Xiang 147#

 

 

Living in Nanluogu Xiang


courtyard7Courtyard 7---Siheyuan-style hotel
Elegant Siheyuan-style hotels are the most popular ones in Nanluogu Xiang. Although the decoration of such hotels are vintage, their furnitures and equipments are as good four-star hotels. They are often located in hutong, have a Siheyuan-style, which are the representations of ancient Beijing.

Location: Qiangulouyuan Hutong (qián gǔ lóu yuàn hú tóng 前鼓楼苑胡同) 7#
 

hu tong renHu Tong Ren Chuang Yi Wen Hua Lu Guan (hú tóng rén chuàng yì wén huà lǚ guǎn 胡同人创意文化旅馆)---Creative Hotel of Hutong
Creative hotels of Hutong aim at making travelers have a sense of being home. Such hotels are typical Siheyuan equipped with traditional guestrooms, tea house, and ecological yard. They provide not only residence, but also series products like creative foods and tea for customers. Creative hotels of hutong are designed by the famous local creative like Jacky Lee who leads a new style of hotel creation.

Location: Nanluogu Xiang Juer Hutong (jú ér hú tóng 菊儿胡同) 71#
 


Location and Transportation


Location
Nanluogu Xiang is located in the north to Dianmen East Street (dì ān mén dōng dà jiē 地安门东大街), Dongcheng District (dōng chéng qū 东城区), Beijing. show map

Transportation
Take bus 118, 13, 612, 823 to Luoguxiang Station (luó gǔ xiàng zhàn 锣鼓巷站), or take subway to Zhangzizhonglu Station (zhāng zì zhōng lù zhàn 张自忠路站).

 

Attractions Nearby


Beihai Park (běi hǎi gōng yuán 北海公园)
With the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park (jǐng shān gōng yuán 景山公园) to its east, Zhong Nan Hai (zhōng nán hǎi 中南海) to its south, Beihai Park is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved ancient imperial gardens in China located in the center of Beijing. This ancient garden, with over 1,000 years' history, is not only a classic combination of the grandiosity of the northern gardens and the refinement of the southern gardens in China, but also a perfect integration of magnificent imperial palaces and solemn religious constructions.

 

bei hai park 


Houhai (hòu hǎi 后海)

houhaiHouhai is a lake in central Beijing, one of the three parts of Shichahai. In recent years it has become famous for nightlife because it is home to several popular restaurants, bars, and cafes.
Until recently Houhai only consisted of a few restaurants. Houhai first became popular with modern establishments on the newly constructed Lotus Lane in 2003. The area is especially popular with foreign tourists visiting Beijing, but is also often visited by the expatriate community and younger locals.

 

gu louGulou (gǔ lóu 鼓楼)
Gulou, the drum tower of Beijing, is situated at the northern end of the central axis of the Inner City to the north of Di’ anmen Street. Originally built for musical reasons, it was later used to announce the time and is now a tourist attraction. The Drum Tower was built in 1272 during the reign of Kublai Khan, at which time it stood at the very heart of the Yuan capital Dadu. At that time it was known as the Tower of Orderly Administration (Qizhenglou).

In 1420, under the Ming Emperor Yongle, the building was reconstructed to the east of the original site and in 1800 under the Qing Emperor Jiaqing, large-scale renovations were carried out. In 1924, the name of the building was changed to "Mingchilou" and objects related to the Eight-Power Allied Forces’ invasion of Beijing and later the May 30 Massacre of 1925 were put on display. Nowadays, the upper story of the building serves as the People’s Cultural Hall of the East City District.

In the 1980s, after much repair, the Bell and Drum Towers were opened to tourists.