Bicycle through hutongs

Hutongs are old lanes or alleys dotted with traditional single-storey courtyard houses, whose history dates back to the 12th century. Tucked away in the north of the Forbidden City, hutongs reflect the everyday living of a common man outside the city walls, which was forbidden to them. Most of the courtyards are covered with large walls with one main entrance gate. You can see a vertical block of a freestanding wall once you peep inside. These walls are created to ward off evil. The life in a hutong is strikingly different from downtown Beijing. Wandering through the narrow lanes, one can experience the slow pace of life of ordinary citizens. You can spot old Chinese men playing chess or some kind of board game. Many of the hutong courtyards have been converted into art centres, cultural corners and boutique hotels. Famous hutongs, including Nanluoguxiang, are now flooded with bars and pubs, flocked by locals and tourists. Hutongs are unfortunately being divided into smaller parts and are on the verge of decline. Some of the Chinese celebrities have taken up residence in these areas in order to preserve them!