Highlights
- Discover Niujie, the 1,000-year-old Hui Muslim quarter in central Beijing
- Choose what catches your eye with no set menu and pay vendors directly
- Taste halal street food the community has been making for centuries
- Hear Hui community stories and explore culture and faith with a Hui Beijinger
- Visit independent food stops with zero commissions or markups
Description
WHAT WE BELIEVE
· A Day In Beijing is an independent one-woman operation, created and run by a born-and-raised Beijinger, to connect our local independent businesses and communities to the world beyond the VPN. We're (I am!) new here, but we're not new at this — 5/5 ratings across every platform and every product so far!
· And we dream big, we want to do our bits to challenge the colonial stereotype of Beijing, of China, through our heartfelt, carefully curated cultural experiences.
· You have 100% control over what to purchase and what to try throughout the experiences. We take zero commission, only charging curation fee.
· We aim to create a conscious and ethical way to travel to this city. Beijing, explained by Beijingers.
· More experiences, cultural context and travelling tips on our Instagram A Day In Beijing, if you want to explore the city independently!
WHY THIS TOUR IS DIFFERENT
- No set menu and no commission. All dietary needs welcome!
- To see the real living, breathing Beijing, walking through working neighbourhoods beyond landmarks.
THIS TOUR IS FOR YOU IF
- You're uncomfortable with tours that treat local communities like a backdrop
- You want to hear the story from someone who's part of it
- You like going places Google Maps won't take you
- You'd rather have a real conversation than follow a script
YOUR ADVENTURE IN NIUJIE
Most visitors come to Beijing for the Wall and the Forbidden City. The locals who live here come to Niujie. Niujie is Beijing's Hui Muslim quarter — a thousand-year-old community in the centre of the city that most foreign tourists never hear about.
The Hui have lived here since the Yuan dynasty, kept their food traditions through eight centuries of imperial change.
Meet your guide at Caishikou subway station. Walk the lanes the Hui community, quiet hutongs that don't appear in most guidebooks. Sit down for tea or coffee in a local spot, and hear the story of Hui Beijing: who the Hui are, how they came to live in the imperial capital, and why this neighbourhood survived when so much of old Beijing was demolished.
Then, the food. You have 100% freedom on what you want to try or purchase, the guide is here to recommend. Various dishes at Hui-owned kitchens locals queue for, for example,
- Lamb skewers grilled over open coals
- Mendingrou bing (门丁肉饼) — Hui-style stuffed pastry, named after the brass studs on imperial gates
- Aiwowo (艾窝窝) — a Ming-dynasty sticky rice sweet
- Lüdagunr (驴打滚) — 'rolling-donkey' rice cakes in soybean flour
Please note: the Niujie Mosque is currently under restoration and cannot be entered. We walk past and your guide tells the story from outside – the history, the architecture and the community are all visible from the street.
PRIVATE EXPERIENCE OPTION
A more intimate version, tailored to your group — flexible pace, deeper conversation, customised focus. Message us to shape the experience for your preferences.
Includes
Small-group walking tour or a private experience of Niujie
Stories, history & cultural insights from inside the community
Multiple Hui Muslim food tastings across hand-picked local spots
Personal recommendations for the rest of your stay in Beijing
Vegetarian, vegan & gluten-free options available
Excludes
Any food, drinks and personal purchases are at your discretion
Gratuities for your guide are not included and are always appreciated
Important Information
- Modest dress is appreciated (we walk past religious sites)
Strict halal-only travellers may find this unsuitable as it's traditional Hui Muslim cuisine, not internationally certified halal
Easy cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
