Nanlouguxiang is one of the best preserved "Hutong" or lane way areas in Beijing. The 786m long central lane has 8 smaller lanes leading off in each direction in a fish bone layout. While the smaller lanes are still mainly residential, the central lane was restored prior to the Olympics and is now a bustling commercial area with cafes, bars and shops. You can find everything from souvenir stores selling matchboxes with Mao's picture to iconic Beijing T-Shirts at Plastered 8.

The central lane is home to the Central Academy of Drama, which has produced many Chinese TV and film stars, including Zhang Ziyi (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). Down the smaller lanes there is a chance to view traditional "siheyuan" or courtyard houses that were once the residences of Imperial officials. The current elderly residents can still be seen during the day playing Chinese chess and people-watching as tourists, both Chinese and foreign wander the streets. As the popularity of the area has grown, many of the hutongs and siheyuan are currently under renovation and a subway station is due to open at the south end of the lane in 2011.

The south-north central lane of Nanluoguxiang is 768 meters long, with 16 hutong meandering east and west of the laneway. This was the typical hutong layout of the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). With a history of more than 700 years, Nanluoguxiang is one of the capital's oldest hutong areas. Nanluoguxiang is worth a visit at night as well. It's full of small and cozy restaurants and bars and is well-known for it's live music venues with intimate folk and jazz bars, Salud and Jianghu. It's also a short walk to some of Beijing's best rock venues, Mao Livehouse and Yugong Yishan.

Dragon Bus China also use one of this area's hostels as our preferred supplier. The partnership allows our clients to stay and get a taste of "Real China". While staying near Beijing the train station might be easy to arrive and leave, it can hardly get you a taste of Beijing, its history and people.