With a history of more than 700 years, Nan Luo Gu Lane is one of Beijing's oldest hutongs and has been one of the capital's 25 cultural and historical protection areas since 1990. In 2009, it was also recommended by Times as one of 25 must-go places in Asia.

( Nan Luo Gu Lane memorial archway )

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Running from north to south, this lane is about 800 meters long with 16 hutongs-8 hutongs on each side of the lane. With relatively intact pattern of the Yuan Dynasty Alleys in the Ming and Qing celebrity sites, Nan Luo Gu Lane demolition survived.

(map of Nan Luo Gu Lane)

Nan Luo Gu Lane, as one of the best preserved areas in downtown Beijing, is now famous for the cafes, restaurants, clothing shops and handicraft shops, galleries that line its hutong laneways as well as its traditional hutong and courtyards (siheyuan).

(coffee shop)

(street in winter)

Nan Luo Gu Lane attracts many foreign and local youths that will roam this area from the morning beyond the midnight. It has the best Chinese cheese shop-Wenyu Cheese and the famous corn juice shop-There Is No Corn Juice Here Shop. Here, you must try the Chinese Crepes-Jianbingguozi. At Nan Luo Gu Lane, you can't miss the Drifting Future Mail, which you can schedule a date in the next a few years to mail to anyone(also including yourself). Also, you will find lots of cool nostalgic handicrafts, such as matchsticks at Match Quotes, handmade shoes, and T-shirts featuring tricked-out images of everything from Mao Zedong(the first Chairman in China).

(cheongsam store)

(artifact)

(rings)

(Chinese Crepes-Jianbingguozi)

(cafe)

(Wenyu Cheese)

(Match Quotes)

(Match Quotes)

Nan Luo Gu Lane is also a very unique Bar Street. The entire Bar Street courtyard of a small cottage, in front of the hanging little red lanterns, and return to the traditional style of decoration, simple compliance actually made in the atmosphere and style of the courtyard. Compared to Sanlitun bar street, Workers'Stadium, Houhai, is the most quiet, hamonous, natural bustling city but away from the hustle and bustle of downtown, closer to life. It is a perfect blend of the past and present. If you want to have a taste of the "Old Beijing", Nan Luo Gu Lane is a must-see hutong.

(Pass by bar)

Tips:

1.    Roam this area, day time and night time can be so different. Many snack shops close before 6 PM, Wenyu Cheese sold out in the early afternoon. During the night time, the lights are on, and the bars begin.

2.    As there will be a lot of walking here, a pair of comfortable shoes will be helpful.

3.    This hutong is very crowded on weekends and Friday.