One of the unique features of Beijing is its numerous Hutongs. The word "Hutong" is said to originate from the Mongolian language, Hudun, meaning "well" in Mongolian. As in the northern grasslands communities tended to form around wells. Later it was applied to a small street. Hence, now it means a lane or passage between rows of Siheyuan courtyard houses.There are 7,000 Hutongs in Beijing.

The widest is 4 meters and the narrowest 70cm. `The longest, Rongxian (Embroidery Floss) Hutong, is two kilometers long, while the shortest is Yichi Dajie (One-foot Street), which is actually twenty meters long. The majority of Hutongs run straight from east to west, some from north to south. Most of the Hutongs that remain today were formed in the Ming and Qing dynasties. They look almost the same with gray walls and bricks.

In these small lanes, there are many Siheyuan, or quadrangles, which are the living quarters of ordinary Beijingers. Hutongs are a happy kind of place. There are often 4 to 10 families with an average of 20 people sharing the rooms of one courtyard complex. The main attraction of Hutong life is a friendly and interpersonal communication. Children living in one courtyard play together and grow up like one family.

Many Hutongs have a story behind them. Beijing's Hutong is not a simple architecture. It contains a lot of human elements. It's a museum of Beijing folk custom and also the witness of history.

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