[Beijing] The moon, the hutong, the Jing and me. 明月，胡同，京与我。🌕📍Beijing, China. 中国北京。🇨🇳 . . . #china #beijing #forbiddencity #travelthroughthelenses #nonmainstream #ancientchina #travelgram #igchina #history #chinahistory #chinagram #lovebeijing #lifeinbeijing #beijinger #chinese #chinesearchitecture #citygrammers #oldplaces #chinaexplorer #discoverchina #createexplore #hutong #instatravel #sihantravels #igdaily #instabeijing #notatourist #中国 #北京 #胡同

[Beijing] Hutongs played an important role in the history and culture of Beijing, it is an alley formed by rows of siheyuan (四合院), a kind of historical Chinese houses where old Beijingers live in. Among them, Bada Hutong (八大胡同) which literally means Eight main alleys is a little different, it used to be the red-light district of Beijing during the Qing dynasty. These eight specific hutongs are situated near the Qianmen area, where hundreds of brothels used to operate. One of them is the Shaanxi Xiang (陕西巷), which I would always bring members from the overseas study group (something I used to organised during my free time before COVID-19 hits the world) to. Although Beijing has rolled into an international metropolis, but you can still catch a glimpse of the past as many of these old architectural buildings still remains. Though served as entertainment establishments, Bada Hutong was the site of many legendary stories where some beautifully storied prostitutes such as Sai Jinhua (赛金花) and Xiao Fengxian (小凤仙) became the protagonists. Perhaps I can share some of them one day. 🙂 📍Beijing, China. 中国北京。🇨🇳 . . . #china #beijing #forbiddencity #travelthroughthelenses #nonmainstream #ancientchina #travelgram #igchina #history #chinahistory #chinagram #lovebeijing #lifeinbeijing #beijinger #chinese #chinesearchitecture #citygrammers #oldplaces #chinaexplorer #discoverchina #createexplore #hutong #instatravel #sihantravels #igdaily #instabeijing #notatourist #中国 #北京 #胡同

[Beijing] This is the Lu Song Yuan Courtyard Hotel (侣松园酒店) located in Ban Chang Hutong (板厂胡同), just off Nanluoguxiang Alley and surrounded by many historical buildings built from the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties that are still preserved today. It is also where I would put up at whenever I visit Beijing. In fact the hotel itself is an old heritage site, Lu Song Yuan used to be the residence of a Mongolian prince and general named Sengge Rinchen (僧格林沁), he served at the war front during the late Qing dynasty and fought bravely in several battles including the suppression of Taiping Kingdom rebels and the Second Opium War. The prince mansion was sold and cut up after the fall of the Qing dynasty, a large portion became the Lu Song Yuan hotel today, including an ancestral hall located in a two-storey high building known as the “rear building” (后罩楼), you can see it on the right side of the picture. Notice that room on the second floor with the lights on? That’s mine, Room 501. I’ve like it so much that I always requested for this particular room and the hotel staff have also taken note of it, and by default prepare the room for me whenever I stay there! The Lu Song Yuan is a faded but amiable place favoured by the European backpacker set. 📍Beijing, China. 中国北京。🇨🇳 . . . #china #beijing #forbiddencity #beijinglife #nonmainstream #chinatrips #travelgram #igchina #history #love #seetheworld #bitesize #beijinger #chinese #chinesearchitecture #citygrammers #oldplaces #chinaphotography #discoverchina #createexplore #hutong #instagram #instatravel #sihantravels #igdaily #instabeijing #nightshooters #中国 #北京 #胡同