Itinerary:

Picked up at your hotel around 8:00 in the morning or 14:00 in the afternoon. Transfered to Houhai Park, explore the narrow hutongs and traditonal courtyards by taking a rickshaw, have an upclose look at the lifestyle of people here which iseems different from that of people in downtown area. You will also see the Drum Tower and hear the drum beating.

Hutong is a unique form of community that exists only in China. Surrounding the Forbidden City, most of Hutongs were built in the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties (1271-1911). In the prime of the three dynasties, the emperors planned the city and arranged the residential areas so as to establish supreme power for them. The most famous Hutong in Beijing is near the Houhai Lake. Here you can feel the real Chinese neighborhood culture. Go along the Hutong you will see the Drum Tower.

Drum Tower is 46.7 meters high. It is an arched wooden structure with three layers of upturned eaves, covered with grey tube shaped tiles and edged with green glazed tiles. The drums are beaten every 30 minutes on the top and bottom of the hour. So you can enjoy the interesting drum beating show.

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