Beijing Sightseeing: Around the City

Hutong Tour

Old Beijing still survives in a small section full of small alleyways (hutong). The area can be visited on foot or via bicycle-style rickshaws. The buildings are uniformly gray but can be brought to life by a good guide.

Soong Qingling Residence

Soong Qingling was the wife the Sun Yat-Sen, founder of the first Chinese republic (now controlling only Taiwan province). After the death of her husband, she sided with the Communists and was named Honorary President of the People's Republic. Formerly, the mansion of a noblemen, she was assigned the house as her residence, which is now a museum in her honor.

Drum Tower and Bell Towers

The purpose of drum and bell towers in Chinese cities was to mark time and announce the opening and closing of the city gates. The top of the Drum Tower can be reached via a very steep stairway. Here you can many large drums as well as some old huge drums made from a dingle piece of hide that were maliciously cut up by Western soldiers when they sacked Beijing. Drum performances are scheduled throughout the day.

Grand View Garden

This garden is named after the one described in the most famous love story in Chinese literature, "The Story of the Stone", better known as "Dream of the Red Chamber". This garden was actually built initially as a set for the TV series that was based on the book and has now been turned into a park. In the story, the garden contains a number of small buildings assigned to each of the main teenage characters. Unfortunately, insufficient signage makes it hard to figure out who is suposed to be living where.

Fans of the book should also visit Prince Gong's Garden located near the hutong area. That garden was reportedly the inspiration for the author of the book.