Hutongs and Night Life

Just another crazy set of signs 

Nice metal motorized metal box

Beijing has lots of narrow alleys that were once houses surrounding courtyards.  Most of the hutongs are disappearing as major roads and buildings are being built and the ones that have survived have converted into shopping areas with restaurants, bars, and coffee houses (lots of Starbucks!).  Near the Drum Tower, there are several hutongs that are both residential and retail, including one residential one where the hutongs were brand new, just made to look old.  It seemed to us, that those who lived there had a bit of money. 

converted Hutong into a shopping haven for both tourists and Chinese

the newly redone Hutong, made to look old and authentic

manhole with the map of the Hutong

fishing in the lakes

 Close to the hutongs are Lakes Houhai and Quinhai, once where the royal and imperial families played on the water--and near Beiahi Park.  We wandered over there for an evening meal and a bar to watch the night life of Beijing.  It was a Monday evening, so it was fairly quite. But, you could tell that in the evenings on a weekend, this was the place to be,

a decked out golf cart

bars and restaurants surrounding the lakes

people watching

one of the many karaoke bars 

 We sat down at bar near a convenient store that sold a typical drink: yogurt in a clay pot.  You would return the container to recycle.  I never had the courage to try it, but Will of course did.  He side it was just like drinking yogurt  To be honest, I was more intrigued by the cotton candy spinner.  She was making cotton candy twice as big as my head!

Look at the cotton candy!!

newer hutongs with shops underneath

a mess of rickshaws for hire

Yingding Bridge-- names such because it looks like a silver ingot

rented paddle boats 

where we had to have dinner, of course!

people watching as night falls by the Silver Ingot Bridge

having a few of the local beer

night on the lakes

all the shops' lights reflecting on the lake

Cheers!