Hutong Tour

Lunch in Mr. Wang's hutong.

Not too far from Tiananmen Square there are residential areas called hutongs. The name comes from the well dug in the central courtyard around which small tightly-knit communities were built. Originally, the courtyard would have been in the center of a rectangular building and four families would have shared the building. Sleeping and living spaces were unique, but common areas, like kitchens, would have been shared. Beginning in the 1960’s, many of the courtyards were converted into living space and now many hutongs house eight families or more.



Hutong BMWs (according to our guide).



With our host, Mr. Wang.

After a short pedicab tour of the narrow streets surrounding the hutongs, we stopped for lunch at one of the few hutongs whose owners host guests for meals. We were invited into the living area, which consisted of an outer washroom and two inner rooms, one for dining and the other for relaxation (much like a den or family room in an American home). Lunch was prepared by Mr. Wang, whose family has lived in that particular hutong for three generations. The lunch was delicious, with chicken and beef dishes served with white rice and dumplings. Ally and I liked the spicy chicken dish the best. After lunch Mr. Wang came out and we had a chance to talk to him about life in a hutong. It became obvious that there were a lot of similarities between life in a hutong and the court on which we live in Virginia Beach. The families are very close, watching out for one another, and sharing celebrations and holidays together. It was interesting to draw parallels while talking to Mr. Wang. Even though our cultures are quite different, there are basic commonalities that allowed us to relate to one another easily.