Conquer the Heart of Beijing in an Afternoon with an Ebike
Project Pengyou interns, David Ferguson and Yixuan Lim, took a spin around the hutongs as a trial run of Hutong Ebikes, a new e-bike tour service in Beijing. Here’s what happened along the way.
Hutongs (胡同) wind into the heart of Beijing and show a more intimate side of the city. These intricate mazes of narrow alleys boast an 800 year history dating back to the Yuan Dynasty. They are undoubtedly a slice of real Beijing life; it is not surprising that spending a day hiking through them featured #3 on Time Magazine’s Guide of 10 Things to Do in Beijing.
But instead of walking, isn’t it better to ride? On a sweltering Wednesday afternoon, we zipped off on two electric bicycles (e-bikes) courtesy of Hutong Ebikes, a new ebike rental service in Beijing (they are located in Shique Hutong (石雀胡同), a stone’s throw away from Beixinqiao Train Station (exit C)).
It was an adventure that definitely did not disappoint. Exploring the hutongs on an ebike gave us a perspective that was different from the familiar roads and streets. The ebikes allowed us to go deeper into the hutongs, experience the rhythm of everyday life, and see many different sights in one afternoon.
Our guides were very friendly and willing to help us navigate Beijing. Upon rental, we were given a map, a helmet, a bottle of water and a few quick words of advice: “keep on the right side of the road”. The bikes also came with locks, so we could easily hop on and off the bike to visit various sites. After giving the ebikes a quick test ride for safety, we were off!
Highlights from Our Ebike Ride
We stopped over at places including Lama Temple, Confucius Temple, Drum and Bell Tower, and Hou Hai. But here are our top five highlights.
1. Confucius Temple
We made a short stop outside the Confucius temple but did not enter due to time constraints. Even from the outside, the Confucius temple exuded an atmosphere of solemn stillness – unlike the nearby Lama temple where people still offer incense, there is less activity going on in the Confucius temple, giving you more room to contemplate the wisdom of the sage and admire the Yuan-era architecture. We made a mental note to visit the temple sometime soon.
2. Moxi Moxi, Israeli Place:
Our stopover for lunch was Moxi Moxi, a little hole-in-the-wall hidden in a hutong serving authentic Israeli food. We had the falafel pita and Schnitzel pita, which were great. They also served limonana, an Israeli lemonade and mint drink that provided refreshing respite on the hot day. There was also a steady stream of customers at this place!
3. Drum & Bell Tower:
These are the two towers that dominated Beijing’s skyline for centuries before the construction of high-rises. Now, they serve as fun tourist stops that show how Beijingers kept time for centuries. From these two places, you can see the tops of all the hutongs in the city and experience some very pleasant breezes, a respite from the scorching heat. Be ready for some steep stairs, though! If you come at the right time, you can even enjoy a free traditional drum performance!
4. Surprise Stopover at Tea House:
At the Bell Tower, we unexpectedly chanced upon a tea house that provided tea tasting sessions. At 50¥ ($7.48) a pop, we decided to give it a shot to improve our knowledge on different Chinese teas and their health benefits. We sampled some green jasmine tea, oolong tea, pu-er tea, lychee tea with fruit petals, and fruit tea. Our favorites were the pu-er tea (a fermented, aged tea that tasted dark and earthy) andlychee tea (a black tea scented with lychee leaves that tasted fruity and flavorful). Pu-er tea, in particular, is a uniquely Chinese tea and you can read more about it here!
5. Hou Hai & Shi Cha Hai:
Hou Hai park is one of the most beautiful places in Beijing. After circling the lake on an ebike, the lake was a great place to spend a whole afternoon cooling off during the hot summer. And Shi Cha Hai’s streets and hutongs were some of the most vibrant and fun places in the city. Also worth a visit of its own!
Hutong Experience:
Aside from these sights, the experience of riding through the hutongs was a highlight in itself. The trip was a lot of fun and has really helped us in navigating central Beijing outside main roadways. We also learned a few things, for example honking, though quite annoying to pedestrians, make lots of practical sense as a communication tool. Squeezing by pedestrians and other motorists, avoiding dead ends, and eschewing maps for your own sense of direction are all part of the skill-set honed in the hutongs. Anyone can navigate the main thoroughfares of the city, but only truly adept Beijingers will wind their way through hutongs with ease.
Allen Saunders said: “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”
For those that stay in Beijing, buy an ebike or scooter. For those of us that are only here for a short while, why not rent an ebike? It requires hardly any planning at all (make it up as you go), and taste that slice of real Beijing life.
About Hutong Ebikes:
The ebikes were courtesy of Hutong Ebikes (www.hutongebikes.com), a new ebike rental service in Beijing. They are located in Shique Hutong (石雀胡同), a stone’s throw away from Beixinqiao Train Station (exit C).