I highly recommend the rickshaw ride or pedicab through the hutong area near the Ho Hai area. Ours was arranged by our guide so we did NOT get ripped off as has been mentioned by others. We saw the hutong and were taken into a rich person's courtyard home. This was fabulous but is not to be confused with how... more

Two people per pedicab so if there is an odd number in your group, someone is in a cab by themselves. BUT, the pedicab drivers are very willing to stop anywhere for photo ops. Don't expect someone to know much English but you can manage. IF you want to see a genuine garden home, you have to pay the owner... more

I have been around the Hutongs on a rickshaw twice. The first was part of an organised university tour. Because it was organised by the Beijing university we did not get hassled at all by our drivers, we were taken where we wanted, and we did not get pulled into any shops. On my second time, I was with my... more

We were in Beijing in November 2006. After spending the morning in the Forbidden City we ate at an outstanding Sichuan retaurant, Baguo buyi (one of the best meals I have ever had). This is on Dianmen Dongdaije, a wide avenue that runs east-west about 1km north of the north gate of the Forbidden City. It also forms the southern... more

We went on a pedicab ride (organised by CTS our tour company) through the hutongs (alleys) of old Beijing. It is like a bicycle pulling a little cart in which 2 people sit. It is like a Disneyland switchback ride, as he zooms around the corners! Great fun! We then stopped at a little old lady's house, who gave us... more