Dashilan is marked by a distinctive entrance arch, often adorned with a cascade of red lanterns and glowing golden calligraphy. This centuries-old commercial street, situated south of Tiananmen Square and west of Qianmen Street, traces its…
Eight Great Hutongs History
This self-guided walk leads you through the winding alleys of Dashilan to uncover the complex social history of Beijing's former red-light and entertainment district. You will trace the stories of elite courtesans, opera masters, and forgotten lives through remarkably preserved courtyard architecture.
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1. Beijing Dashilan
2. Zhujia Hu Tong
Zhujia Hutong is defined by its history as one of the Eight Great Hutongs, a group of alleys that historically formed the center of Beijing’s red-light district. Emerging in the eighteenth century near the Dashilan area, these lanes were…
3. Shitou Hu Tong
Shitou Hutong is one of several narrow alleys located in the Dashilan area of the Xicheng District. The name translates to Stone Alley, and it is part of a larger cluster historically known as the Bada Hutong. During the eighteenth…
4. Beijing Xiaofengxian Featured Hostel
The Beijing Xiaofengxian Featured Hostel is identified by the lions placed at its wooden entrance on Shaanxi Lane. Located within the Xicheng District, this site occupies a traditional setting near the historic Dashilan area. The building…
5. Hanjia Hu Tong
Hanjia Hutong is defined by its narrow, densely packed layout of traditional courtyard houses, characteristic of the historic architecture found in the Xicheng District. Once known as Hanjia Tan, the name originated from a former pond in…
6. Baishun Hu Tong
Baishun Hutong is a narrow lane in the Dashilan area that measures two hundred forty-five meters in length. Originally named for the cypress trees planted along its path during the Ming Dynasty, the alley was later renamed during the early…
7. Yanzhi Hu Tong
Yanzhi Hutong is one of the narrow alleys forming the historic Bada Hutong, or the Eight Great Hutongs, in the Dashila area of Beijing. You can identify this lane by the characteristic rows of grey-brick, single-story courtyard houses that…