The neighbourhood around the Drum and Bell Towers in the north of the old city — one of the most pleasant areas in Beijing for an evening walk, dinner, or a drink. The hutongs here are quieter than Nanluoguxiang and less developed: old grey-brick lanes with small restaurants, coffee shops, natural wine bars, and vintage clothing stores tucked into converted courtyard spaces. The area around Fangjia Hutong and Banchang Hutong has the best concentration of independent businesses.
The Drum Tower is the neighbourhood's visual anchor; the view from the top over the surrounding rooftops is the clearest picture of old Beijing's low-scale residential character. Good restaurants cluster on and around Gulou Dongdajie; the area is most active in the evenings when locals and younger expats congregate in the courtyard bars.