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It is said that the real culture of Beijing is the culture of Hutong, the ancient peculiar alley of Beijing. The word “hutong” is Mongolian in origin, meaning a “water well”. In the old time with the digging of new wells, came the new communities. Later it 
was referred to as narrow streets or lanes formed by quadrangle courtyards.
Surrounding the Imperial Palace, hutongs were established throughout the Yuan (1206-1341), Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties. Most of the hutongs we see today were built during the Ming and Qinq. You only still find a very few hutongs preserved from the Yuan Dynasty.
Hutong, as a symbol of Beijing, has its own style and structure than makes it a miracle in the world. Taking a bird’s eye view of Beijing, you will find a combination of Hutong and courtyards that board ordered with beautiful gardens, magnificent rocks, and ancient ruins. Hutong witnesses the development of Beijing, so they say where is where is a Hutong, where is a part of Beijing history.
Beijing Hutongs have various names. Some are named connected to a personality, such as Wenchengixang Hutong. Some are named with market or goods, such as Golden fish. The longest Hutong is Dongxijiao Minxiang with a length of 6.5km. The most narrow is Qianshi Hutong (Money Market Hutong), only 0.7meter wide.
At present, the most popular hutongs are situated in the area of Shichahai and Dazhalan with a rickshaw of RMB50-100.
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