With evocative names such as "Skewed Tobacco Pouch Street" and "East River Rice Lane," the charming, ancient hutongs of Beijing are always popular with visitors to the sprawling capital city. Narrow alleyways run alongside walled courtyards, transporting those who wander down them back to the Yuan Dynasty of the 13th century, when many were created, and conjuring up images of a communal lifestyle in stark contrast to the frenetic pace of the modern Chinese megapolis. Read more
