Trip Summary - Hutong Tour

Today was a full and exciting day. We took a rickshaw (bicycle driven) tour through the Hutong area. This is an area of very traditional homes, which were originally built around water wells by the Mongols during their time of rule. These are connected by very narrow alleys, through which we drove very fast, and which we were followed by street vendors. Shopping on wheels – who would have thought!

The first stop was to a small neighbourhood daycare; 700 kids from ages 2 to 6. They couldn’t be any cuter! We spent about 15 minutes being entertained by these little guys. Yep, kids are just the same around the world!

We were also very fortunate to be invited into one of the local family homes by a gentleman named “Cricket” Lui. In his courtyard he has numerous birds like pigeons and parrots. He also has a little dog, and of course, lots of crickets and grasshoppers. We had tea and snacks in his living room, and were entertained by the cricket chirps and all of the little implements he has made for the crickets – drinking bowls, brooms, houses… He is really a very entertaining and sweet man, and loves to open his home to visitors.

Our last stop of the day was to a tea house, to learn about Chinese teas, and how to prepare and serve them properly. A very nice break after our chilly morning.