Beijing Hutongs, Ancient Towers and Flea Market
Discover Nanluoguxiang, one of the most popular hutongs in the city. It has a history of over 800 years. This 800-meter-long north-south alleyway is filled with bars, cafes, restaurants, artistic little shops, souvenir shops, and cute boutiques. It is worth spending an hour or two walking through the little alleyways and hutongs around it.
Explore the Bell Tower and Drum Tower, located at the north end of the central axis of Beijing. They are a group of ancient buildings that served as the time-telling center in the capital during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. They have a long history of over 650 years. The sound of the bell and drum helps people imagine life in ancient times. Today, visitors can climb the towers for a bird's-eye view and admire the entire city.
Have lunch at a local restaurant.
Stroll through the Beijing Panjiayuan Flea Market, covering an area of 48,500 square meters. It is divided into six sections: roadside stands, ancient architecture, classical furniture, modern collections, sculpture and stone engraving, and the catering section. Trading mostly in antiques and handicrafts, Panjiayuan has an annual revenue of several hundred million yuan. It has more than 4,000 shop assistants, 60 per cent of whom are from 28 provinces and municipalities outside Beijing. People here come from a variety of backgrounds, including more than ten minority groups such as Hui, Man, Miao, Dong, Uigur, Mongolian, and Korean.
