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1.Meeting @Local Market (30 Minutes) 2.Core Experience: Hutong Walk & Handmade Dumplings (1 Hour) 3.Warm Moment: Home-Cooked Lunch (40 Minutes) 4.Classic Sights: Shichahai & Nanluoguxiang (1.5 Hours)

Highlights

• Savor the flavors of Beijing with a home-cooked meal in a local's home
• Learn to make traditional dumplings with guidance from a local host
• Explore the historic hutongs of Beijing with a knowledgeable guide
• Discover the stories and history of the hutongs as you wander through them
• Enjoy a leisurely walk along the banks of Houhai, lined with willow trees

Description

Meeting @Local Market ( 30 Minutes) Your guide will meet you promptly at Exit A2 of Gulou Subway Station. After gathering, we’ll head to a nearby 'local community market' — a microcosm of daily life for Beijingers. Fresh vegetables, authentic seasonings, and lively vendor calls fill the air with vibrant street energy. With your guide’s help, you can pick ingredients for the 'dumpling-making class' based on your taste. You can also choose favorite ingredients for the upcoming 'home-cooked lunch' at a local resident’s house, making the whole process highly engaging. Core Experience: Hutong Walk & Handmade Dumplings ( 1 Hour) After Market, your guide will lead you on a walk through quiet 'old Beijing hutongs'. and will end at a well-preserved SIHEYUAN, where the hostess will be waiting with all the necessary tools. Before making dumplings, your guide will share fascinating insights into 'hutong and siheyuan culture'. You’ll learn about the siheyuan’s traditional layout emphasizing hierarchy, the stories behind hutong names, and the living customs of old Beijingers. Then, under the hostess’s patient guidance, you’ll experience the full dumpling-making process. From controlling the dough’s softness to rolling wrappers evenly, blending filling flavors, and even learning to shape 'ingot dumplings' and 'crescent dumplings' — each dumpling carries a piece of Beijing’s culinary heritage. Warm Moment: Home-Cooked Lunch ( 40 Minutes) The dumplings you made will be the highlight of the lunch! All ingredients are freshly purchased from the morning market. You can choose to 'join the cooking' and prepare authentic local dishes with the hostess. Or you can 'sit back and relax' while she whips up a genuine 'Beijing-style home-cooked meal'. Whether it’s steaming dumplings, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, or hearty stews, every bite tastes like 'home', letting you feel the warm hospitality of Beijingers. Classic Sights: Shichahai & Nanluoguxiang (1.5 Hours) After lunch, your guide will take you further on foot. Along the way, we’ll pass the Bell Tower and Drum Tower on Beijing’s central axis — historic 'time landmarks' of old Beijing. Here, you’ll often see retired locals enjoying traditional exercises: kicking shuttlecocks, spinning diabolo, or playing badminton. Their skillful moves reflect the vitality of Beijing’s elders, and you can pause to watch and soak up the laid-back neighborhood vibe. Passing the Bell and Drum Towers, You’ll reach 'Shichahai' is both a 'historical and cultural protection area' and a 'commercial and entertainment hub' in the old town. Bars, authentic restaurants, and cozy cafes line the lakeside. Nanluoguxiang Pedestrian Street. With a history of over 740 years, Nanluoguxiang is home to over a hundred unique shops. From creative handcraft stores and folk art workshops to trendy cafes, local food stalls, and 特色 bars —You can wander freely, browse the shops, and taste snacks to wrap up the tour perfectly.

Includes

Home-style meal with fresh local produce Dumpling making class Guided tour of Houhai, Yandai Xiejie, and Nanluoguxiang Local guide familiar with hutong history

Important Information

• The activity involves walking through hutongs, so wear comfortable shoes. The dumpling making class is hands-on, so be prepared to get involved. The tour will proceed in most weather conditions, so dress appropriately.

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund