After leaving the hotel at 8am sharp on Saturday morning, we were delighted to step outside to a GORGEOUS cool morning with clear skies (and good air quality).  Our first stop, after crawling through traffic, was the Old Beijing Hutong.

A hutong is a collection of very narrow streets with couryard style homes. Many of these areas have been demolished to make room for MORE highrises, but this section is still protected and vital.



Riding in a rickshaw …. CHECK.

We rode through the narrow streets and enjoyed taking peeks into slices of life inside the homes.  At times, the aroma was less than pleasant.  We stopped and visited an active family home which housed 4 families.  The courtyard was quaint but the living style was very basic.

One can actually rent a room here and have a true Hutong experience.  But after viewing the communal kitchen and imagining walking down the street to the neighborhood toilet and shower, I decided to admit that I am a spoiled American and am grateful for our modern hotel.

I can see new beads in my future!