The streets south of Beijing's Second Ring Road in Chongwen are a quieter place to look for older hutong life away from the city's showpiece sights. Small shops, simple restaurants, and local businesses still give parts of the area a lived-in feel.
Come for an unhurried walk rather than a single landmark. It pairs best with nearby Temple of Heaven or Hong Qiao Pearl Market, and is most rewarding for travellers interested in ordinary street life and older urban fabric.