Peking Duck
Lacquer-skinned duck carved tableside. Book ahead or queue with the locals — both worth it.
Siji Minfu Roast Duck · Beijing
The Modern Hutong
Beijing4.71 hr 30 min16k saved
The grey-brick alley grid around Gulou and Beiluoguxiang is where Beijing's courtyard life meets third-wave coffee, vinyl bars and design studios. Skip the souvenir gauntlet of Nanluoguxiang and slip into the quieter parallel hutongs — Fangjia, Wudaoying — for roasters and noodle holes. Rent a bike or just drift; the joy is glimpsing siheyuan courtyards through half-open red doors.
Good to know
- Best time — afternoon — Weekday late afternoon-early evening (~16:00-19:00) for lit-up but not packed; weekday mornings calmest.
- Open public neighborhood - alleys 24h; shops/cafes ~10:00-22:00.
- Skip Nanluoguxiang, walk Fangjia or Wudaoying
- Best courtyards seen through open doorways
- Cycle the lanes — slower is better
Insider tip — Skip the touristy main drag - duck into quiet perpendicular side hutongs (Mao'er, Ju'er); climb the Drum Tower for the drum performance + rooftop view.
Photo: Caitriana Nicholson from 北京 ~ Beijing, 中国 ~ China · CC BY-SA 2.0
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