Explore Ancient Chinese Architecture & Meet its People | La Vacanza Travel

Explore Ancient Chinese Architecture & Meet its People

Duration: 3 to 4 hours
Destination: China, Beijing, Beijing
from
118.05

Check Availability

  • 3 to 4 hours
  • Beijing
  • E-Voucher
  • Lowest Price
  • Not-Cancellable

Overview

As a girl who grew up in a former Prince Mansion (although I am not a Princess :) I feel very attached to Ancient Chinese Architecture and have explored many hidden gems in Beijing. They are like my old house.

Many "old houses" are disappearing in Beijing, together with hutongs. I want to share with you its beauty, the way of life and the heartwarming people in the hutongs!

Note: 1% of the payment we receive from this experience will go to support Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center (CHP), a NGO that help residents to preserve their cultural heritage.

What Can You Expect?

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Dongsi Hutong, East of Dongsi Beidajie, Beijing China

Explore Ancient Chinese Architecture with Yuhua, a hutong NERD :) and meet real people who strive to preserve Chinese Architecture in hutongs in Beijing? And learn to appreciate the beauty and key features of Chinese Architecture. We will explore Dongsi hutongs, the authentic hutong area in Beijing, which has come into shape since the rule of the Mongolian emperor Kublai Khan.

During this experience you will…

*Have privileged access to the best-preserved Traditional Courtyard House in one of the most authentic hutong areas in Beijing.

*Receive a primer of Ancient Chinese Architecture so you understand what you are seeing in Beijing and China...

*Meet my friend Uncle Zhu, decedent of Father of Studies on Ancient Chinese Architecture, and visit ordinary Beijingers who make extraordinary efforts to preserve architectural heritage, our home.

* Try your hands at dissembling and assembling Dougong, one of the most significant elements in Ancient Chinese Architecture.

*Explore with Yuhua some hidden architecture gems in Beijing.

* It is all about people. Architecture has a heart.

*Savor Chinese Tea & Have a taste of a variety of Traditional Beijing snacks at a very local restaurant.

Note: 1% of the payment we receive from this experience will go to support Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center (CHP), a NGO who helps residents to protect heritage.

Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Beijing Fujunwang Palace, No.137 Chaoyangmen Main Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010 China

We will explore former Prince Fu Mansion. I call it "the Deserted Forbidden City". Even it is shared by more than 400 households, its beauty can still be seen everywhere.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Site of the Duanqirui Government, No.3 Zhangzizhong Road, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100007 China

A beautiful former administrative office building complex in late Qing and Republic of China era. A hidden architecture gem in Beijing, a beautiful combination of Ancient Chinese Architecture and Western Architecture styles.

Duration: 30 minutes

Inclusions & Exclusions

Inclusions
  • Snacks - A variety of local traditional snacks
  • Priviliged visits to my friends' homes at Uncle Zhu, Uncle Wang or Grandpa Li's.
  • Give a try to dissemble and assemble the Dougong parts, one of the most significant elements of the Chinese Architecture
  • Coffee and/or Tea - Natural traditional Chinese tea
  • Entry/Admission - Dongsi Hutong

Exclusions

    Additional Info

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    • Near public transportation
    • Infants must sit on laps
    • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 1 day of travel. In this case confirmation will be received as soon as possible, subject to availability

    Departure Point

    Departure Point

    Dongsi Subdistrict, Beijing, Dongcheng, Beijing, China


    Departure Time

    09:00 AM


    Return Details

    Zhangzizhong Road, Zhang Zi Zhong Lu, Dong Cheng Qu, Bei Jing Shi, China, 100009

    Duration & Voucher Info

    Voucher info

    You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.

    Duration

    3 to 4 hours

    Cancellation Policy

    User's Reviews

    sidharthb91

    23 Dec, 2019

    I have been living in China for a year and the Hutongs have always fascinated me. I have seen a couple of movies about the life in Hutongs, 剃头匠 or the Old Barber being the most memorable. When I got an opportunity to experience life in the Hutongs through Beijing Way’s “Explore Ancient Chinese Architecture & Meet its People”, I jumped right in. I learnt that Yuhua has undertaken many years of painstaking research to put this experience together. This reflects in the kind pearls of wisdom one can takeaway from this experience. I was introduced to the nuances of architecture in the Hutongs by visiting a courtyard house (四合院). From every pillar to every stone, Yuhua explained to me the architectural and cultural significance of each part of the house. Yuhua wouldn't stop just there. Through miniature wooden models (which I got to play with), she explained to me the intricacies of the architecture of even bigger buildings. Among the various facets, the ceiling murals in the houses of old Beijing (老北京) were quite a discovery for me. It is the resident that gives an architecture its soul. I got a deep insight into the life and experiences of the people who live in the Hutongs, stories of their struggles and successes. Freewheeling conversations and warm hospitality marked these interactions. At the end of the day, I can confidently say that after this immersion in the Hutongs, I have been able to understand Being a little better, China a little better and the story of the Chinese people a little better. Anyone who is remotely interested in Beijing and its Hutongs, must definitely go for this. It will be an experience you will cherish for a lifetime.

    beehorng

    12 Nov, 2019

    First and foremost, my utmost apologies to Yuhua for this very long delayed review. To sum it all, Yuhua's tour has been one of best travel experiences that I have ever joined, and i have been to Beijing many times and have joined countless tours in the past. Yuhua is very passionate about old Beijing architecture and she has generously shared with us her in-depth knowledge on old Beijing hutongs. I felt so privileged to be invited to the homes of the real people who are staying in all these amazing Prince mansion, princely mansion (lower ranking prince), old courtyard house and their efforts in upholding this slice of Chinese architectural heritage. Mr Zhu, a direct descendant of Mr Zhu Qi Jian, a pioneering contributor and benefactor in defining centuries-old Chinese building practice and architectural system in the context of modernized, westernized China. His great-grand son still stays in this lovingly preserved "四合院Siheyuan" or courtyard house in one of the old Beijing Hutongs. We saw all the amazing old photos of his forebears, including his famously beautiful socialite-aunts, his dapper father and mother in their pre-war wedding finery, former Chinese premier Zhou En Lai etc. Yuhua also took us to one of the best preserved Prince mansions of the first ranking order, the great mansion of the grandson of Ching Dynasty Kangxi Emperior. The princely mansion was rewarded by Emperor Yongzheng to Kangxi Emperor's 13th prince, Prince Yi of the first ranking order after his passing to his nephew, for Prince Yi's brotherly support in Yongzheng's struggle to ascend to the throne and support during Yongzheng's reign. The intricate wood carvings on the high ceiling at the main entrance were truly breathtaking, definitely one of the best kept secrets in Beijing. The visit also took us to Mr Li's Mongolian Princely mansion of lower ranking order amazing abode where the kind and hospitable Mr & Mrs Li regaled us with their Beijing living experience and their efforts in preserving the amazing prince mansion building legacy . Lastly, we were so lucky to visit one the earliest Beijing buildings built based on western architectural discipline by Chinese modernist architect in the early 1900s. So if you are a architectural design fan, Yuhua's tour will be a good match for you. Not your typical "tour group" tour and I have truly enjoyed the tour.

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