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📍 Nanluoguxiang

With a total length of 787 meters, Nanluoguxiang is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Beijing. It has a history of more than 740 years. Since the development is positioned as a “cultural, creative and leisure district”, there are many specialty shops and snacks suitable for young people on the main street. In addition, the east and west sides of Nanluoguxiang each intersect with Hachijo Hutong, so you can see the living environment of local people. Due to the excessive commercialization of the street by the tourism industry, Nanluoguxiang took the initiative to cancel the status of a 3A tourist attraction in 2016, thus retaining its own characteristics.

From its panoramic guide map, you can see that Nanluoguxiang is located in the center of various hutongs. While walking through the ancient alley, you might as well take a look at the hutong in between to experience the traditional atmosphere of Beijing.

There are many boutiques for young people here. Among them, you can often see popular mainland celebrities and comic books, such as members of “The Idol Trainee”, “Love and the Producer”, etc. In addition to that, there are certainly plenty of people around Beijing that you can take home as a souvenir.

There are also many specialty shops here, such as this Ocarina shop, where you can already hear the beautiful sound of the clerk's flute in front of the gate. After entering, I discovered that there were all kinds of Ocarina inside, which were extremely exquisite! Children are sure to enjoy the stories they have come back to.

In addition to modern boutiques, it also preserves Chinese traditions. One of the stores sells oiled paper umbrellas, and as soon as you walk in, you can feel the antique flavor, which is like going back in time.

In addition to a number of restaurants in Nanluoguxiang, there are also places where visitors can buy snacks. There are many kinds. There are more than one snack on the street, and if you miss the first one, you can buy them again at the second one, which is very convenient.

I ordered a crab powder and yellow soup bun at one of the Aventang buns. As a recommended dish from China on the palate, it was still quite crowded. The soup bag is larger than a regular Xiaolongbao. You need to use a straw to drink the soup you bought, then eat the leftover skin and paste at the end, which is very fun.

📍 Houhai

Houhai is located near Nanluoguxiang. It is the largest of the Shichahai Three Seas, connecting Qianhai Sea and West Sea. This place is famous for its rich nightlife and is very popular among foreign tourists. Along the lakeshore, you can see many bars and cafes, and you can also see many people boating on the lake, which is very picturesque. Additionally, Song Qingling's former residence and Gong Wangfu are located near Houhai.

In addition to being able to rent your own boat to go boating, there is also a sightseeing boat service for visitors, led by a boatman to shuttle through the back sea.

Finally, when I returned to the hotel, I listed my loot, and I had a great harvest! In total, I bought a map of Beijing's attractions, a few Chinese paper-cut art paintings, and a three-dimensional postcard of Beijing's attractions. Today's itinerary is different from a few days ago. I didn't visit any ancient sights, and both places are perfect for young people!