Hutong (胡同) is an inevitable destination for visitors in Beijing. In Chinese, "Hutong" is actually the transliteration from Mongol in 1267, more than 700 years ago. Hutong, as a product of a profound history, naturally represents the historical and cultural feature of Beijing.

Swedish Chamber is delighted to invite you to join us for this exclusive Treasure Hunt in The Old Hutongs on November 20th! We hope to offer you a unique experience by following our host Ms. Yuhua, the founder of the Beijing Way Experience​, a local Beijing and Hutong lover, who grew up in a huge traditional courtyard compound in a former Prince mansion in Beijing. We will explore the hutongs in Dongsi area, one of the most authentic and oldest hutong areas in Beijing.

What do we do in Treasure hunting?

• Share an old map of Beijing and learn about the city planning, the layout of hutongs and Siheyuan (Traditional Courtyard House)
• Learn about Traditional Chinese Architecture, and appreciate the beauty of Siheyuan, its gates and brick carving
• Explore one of the most beautiful siheyuans hidden in the hutongs
• Visit the neat Dongsi Hutong Museum & Have a fun role play of the Beijingers in local Beijinghua (Beijing dialect)
• Have a try of one of our childhood games in the courtyard with the local kids
• Share about the stories of my friends who live in the hutongs, it is the people who gives the architecture its soul
• Explore a former Mint of Ming and Qing dynasties and bring an old Qing Dynasty coin home!
• Have a taste of Douzhier, and local desserts
• And more...

Testimonials from previous participants

"...Yuhua offered a unique experience by taking me to beautiful courtyard houses where I could see well preserved ceilings and gain insights about ancient Chinese architecture in a very intimate way..."

- Sabine, Germany

"...I can confidently say that after this immersion in the Hutongs, I have been able to understand Beijing a little better, China a little better and the story of the Chinese people a little better. Anyone who is remotely interested in Beijing and its Hutongs, must definitely go for this. It will be an experience you will cherish for a lifetime."

-Sidharth, India

"...It was a great opportunity to meet with your friends real local people in real Beijing. My daughter and I just loved it. You are very interesting and the passion you infuse in each of your words bring much on top of the experience..."

- Noemi, France

"...If you do one tour do this one! Do it early in your stay so you know what you are looking at. Great for small groups including families with teenagers."

- Karen, Australia

"...The Beijing Way experience is NOT the ordinary tour showing you the typical attractions, it is a behind the scenes boutique customized experience. This is an opportunity to learn and appreciate the Chinese culture of yesterday and today in a unique, personal and fun way..."

-Kim, U.S.

Words from Tour guide: Ms.Yuhua

Hutong, the zigzag lanes of Beijing, has always been fascinating to me since I was a child. I am Yuhua, who grew up in a huge traditional courtyard compound in a former Prince mansion in Beijing. After studying in the U.S. and working in European companies, I started to realize wherever I go and whatever I do, I always carry a Hutong tone. It was during the years when I gave birth to my two girls, I got back to hutongs, again and again, to reconnect with hutongs. I have formed deep friendships with amazing people who live in hutongs and discovered wonderful treasures!

Want to find out what Yuhua found? Welcome to sign up now for one of the popular Beijing Way experiences- "Treasure Hunt in the Old Hutongs"

Event Info

Date: Saturday, November 20, 2021

Time: 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM (Duration: around 3.5 hours)

Member Ticket: RMB 250/person

Non-Member Ticket: RMB 300/person

Family Ticket: RMB 350 /1 Adult +1 Child (Age 6-12)

Meeting Point:

Exit C, Subway Line 5 Zhangzizhonglu Station 地铁5号线张自忠路出口C

Language: In English

Limited spots: Maximum 12 people.

Important Notice

• Safety always comes first. The tour guide will purchase short-term accident insurance for each participant. We will contact all registered participants for providing passport or ID information as required.
• One percent of the net income of each experience will be donated to a cultural heritage preservation institution in Beijing. Thank you for your contribution to preserve our hutongs!
• Make sure Both your Travel Code (行程码）and Health Code（健康码）shows Green when you join the Hutong tour. If you have been visiting any risky zones recently, you might not be able to join the tour.
• Please note that If the extreme weather condition is encountered, the experience will be extended to the next weekend accordingly.