A half-day around Beijing’s hutongs

Save the route before leaving

This walk fits a free morning or a late afternoon in central Beijing. The tower visit depends on admission hours. The square, public alleys and waterfront give you a full walk even if you stay outdoors.

1. Start at Shichahai Metro · 什刹海站. Take Line 8 to Exit A2. If you arrive on Line 2, Gulou Dajie (鼓楼大街站) is also walkable. Use 北京鼓楼 as your first pin to reach the tower itself.
2. Walk the towers and lanes. Save 北京鼓楼, 钟楼 and 钟楼湾胡同. These three pins put you on the same stretch of the Central Axis.
3. Finish by the lakes. Save 烟袋斜街, 银锭桥 and 什刹海站. Pick 银锭桥 as your waterfront anchor so the map takes you to the right part of the lake.

Save this sequence as a screenshot before leaving Wi-Fi. 什刹海站A2口 → 北京鼓楼 → 钟楼 → 烟袋斜街 → 银锭桥 → 什刹海站. If you lose your map connection, show the next name and ask 请问怎么走？ (“How do I get there?”).

Budget around an hour for the short version with brief stops. Set aside two to three hours for a tower, some side lanes, photos and a break.

Drum Tower to Bell Tower and Zhonglouwan

From Exit A2, head north along Di’anmenwai Street (地安门外大街) toward the tall red Drum Tower. Walk around it on the public sidewalk to the open square behind it. The Bell Tower is across the plaza to the north. The square gives your group an easy meeting point.

To go inside, search WeChat for 北京钟鼓楼, the official tower account. The city lists ¥20 for the Drum Tower and ¥30 for the joint ticket. Check your date and last entry time in the account before paying. When a booking goes through, save the confirmation with your visit date and ticket type. If WeChat or payment blocks you, show 请问现场可以买鼓楼门票吗？ (“Can I buy a Drum Tower ticket here?”) at the ticket window. The city guide directs visitors seeking discounted tickets to the window with valid ID.

Choose the Drum Tower if you only want one interior. Ask at the entrance about that day’s drumming and look at the stair access before buying. The square and surrounding public lanes give you an alternative if the stairs are steep for your group. Try the short stretch of Zhonglouwan Hutong around the Bell Tower. Beijing’s published route continues to the Guan at Hong’en Taoist Temple (宏恩观) and Doufuchi Hutong (豆腐池胡同).

Take a quiet lane, then enter Yandai Xiejie

For more hutongs, make a detour via Huafeng Hutong (华丰胡同) toward Beiluoguxiang (北锣鼓巷). Beijing’s published route links these lanes to the Bell Tower. Walk only as far as you want to go, then use 北京鼓楼 as your waypoint back. If you want more time at the lake, skip the detour.

Back at the Drum Tower, head south on Di’anmenwai Street. Look for the eastern entrance to Yandai Xiejie (烟袋斜街) near No. 50. The lane angles away from the main street toward the water. Walk toward the western end and follow the bend south to Yinding Bridge (银锭桥). Keep space for neighbors on bikes and pause for photos away from private doors.

Cross Yinding Bridge and choose your finish

Yinding Bridge is the short crossing between Houhai and Qianhai. For another stretch of old lanes, use nearby Guanghua Temple (广化寺) and Ya’er Hutong (鸦儿胡同) as map pins. For a waterfront finish, stay by Qianhai and follow the walkway toward Lotus Market (荷花市场). Pick a bench or café near the lake.

For the quickest exit, return through Yandai Xiejie to Di’anmenwai Street and follow signs for Shichahai Station. If you end near Lotus Market and Line 6 suits your return, use Beihai North (北海北站). Check the platform map for your next stop before boarding. In rain, skip the side lanes. If Yinding Bridge is crowded, enjoy the view from your side and retrace the lane to Shichahai Station.

Sources

• Beijing government · Zhonglouwan walking route and metro access
• Beijing government · Bell and Drum Tower hours and tickets
• Beijing government · Yandai Xiejie directions and Exit A2
• Beijing government · Beiluoguxiang and Huafeng Hutong route
• Xicheng District · Shichahai and Grand Canal walking routes