Private Tour

Beijing Hutong Private 4-Hour Walking Tour w/ Drum & Bell Tower

Overview

Available languages

English

4 hours

Mobile ticket

- A glimpse into old Beijing rich history with the knowledgeable tour guide;

- Watch and listen Drum performance at the Drum tower (only twice per day);

- See the biggest copper bell of China;

- Enjoy the peaceful lake view of Houhai, you may have a relax and enjoy a beer or tea (your own expense).

Additional Info

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Children must be accompanied by an adult

Dress code is smart casual

Extra fee will be requested after 4 hours tour

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

Bell and Drum Towers

Our accredited tour guide will meet you at the centrally located hotel and take you to visit the Drum Tower and Bell Tower which were beaten to give the correct time of day. You will climb up to the drum tower and bell tower to watch the Drum performance and see the biggest copper bell in China. They just give the performance twice a day and the well designed route will make sure you won't miss the highlight during the tour.

1 hour • Admission Included

Nanluoguxiang

Start from the Nanluoguxiang alley, which is the famous and busy commercial street. It's a perfect place for a stretch of unique restaurants, bars, live music, tea and coffee shops, fast food and souvenir shops, etc,... Turn from the alley into the Hutong area, let’s discover the real local people’s life， as well as some old SiHeYuan associated with various famous historic and literary figures.

1 hour • Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Professional English speaking tour guide (4 hours)

Meals (Lunch & Dinner)

Transportation

Gratitude to the guide (Recommended for good service)

Entrance tickets

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Options

English Guide Private Tour

Pickup included

Reviews

5.00

10 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Experienced and knowledgeable guide
472ernestt,,Dec 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Sonia is a very knowledgeable and engaging guide. It was great to have the walking tour with her the first day in a Beijing as she explained the history of our hutong area and familiarized us with the subway system. She was also patient with our kids and seniors. We enjoyed the tour thoroughly.
Good fun
Mike A,,Apr 7, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
Jack was super helpful and knowledgable about the local area. Extremely good English so easy to understand his explanations.
Great tour
Mengksun,,Apr 1, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a fantastic morning tour seeing the hutong area, bell tower and drum tower. Angela arrived on time at our hotel, and was a great guide! We had a small child and my elderly mother with us so she was very kind and allowed us regular rest stops. Would highly recommend this tour if you have a few hrs to spare. We’ve also booked the Great Wall of China with the same tour company (Catherine Tour) as they were so professional and reliable!
Forbidden city
Stefanie B,,Oct 4, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This tour is a must to understand history and culture from past Chinese time. It was excellent organized and tour guide had a profound knowledge. I have the tour very much enjoyed.
Unique, amazing private tour
LZviajera,,Sep 26, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I was planning on visiting Lama Temple and Catherine herself offered to be my tour guide on very short notice. She ended up giving me an amazing, in-depth tour - I learned and saw much more than I would have alone. She then also took us to the Bell Tower and to lunch at an extremely local restaurant in a Hutong. Catherine made sure the experience was everything I had hoped for; she is very kind and knowledgable. Definitely recommend this tour for a special experience!
Justin Was A Wonderful Guide
shirleyripbiker,,Jan 7, 2020
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Walking with a private guide is the best way to see a city, provided the guide is good, and Justin was. He was knowledgeable, intelligent and a has a great personality and his English was perfect. I highly recommend this tour and Justin.
Wonderful tour of Beijing Hutongs
takinahike,,Jun 16, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I recently booked a private Hutong Walking tour and was met be my guide Amanda at the hotel. Amanda was prompt and the excellent subway made getting around very easy. Amanda was a very knowledgeable tour guide and we had a fun morning exploring several Hutongs. I highly recommend early morning for tour as it was cooler and the streets were not very crowded. I was able to get some excellent pictures of "Old Beijing". Booking with Catherine Lu tours was very easy and they are extremely professional and responsive. Take the tour with Amanda, you will not regret it.
Highly recommend for Beijing Private Tour
zjdalton,,Mar 22, 2018
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I was in China for business-related travel but altered my itinerary to explore Beijing. This tour company was able to fit a great walking tour into my schedule of the Hutongs and Drum Tower. The guide, Kim, had great knowledge of Chinese history, as well as Western history so she could put a lot into context. This is a true friction-less option. Hotel pick-up/drop-off, take care of tickets, etc. It was a great experience.
Fabulous tour guide! Very pleased!
ZumaCapt,,Oct 2, 2012
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We hired Catherine Lu for 2 full days with a driver and van as there were 4 adults in our group. We were in Beijing for 2 days prior to our tour due to airline schedules and to allow for time to adjust to jet lag. Because our tour included all of the must-sees in Beijing, we wanted Catherine to take us to some fun sites to include nature, outdoor food markets, hutongs and anything else she suggested. She picked us up promptly at the agreed upon time at our hotel with the driver and van and off we went to the Outdoor Food Market. She spent some time on the ride out getting to know us and describing the traffic situation, customs, and idiosyncrasies that we commented on. Her English is perfect and her commentary explained the shopping customs and food. We tasted many new fruits and observed a vendor making sesame oil. Fascinating! We continued to the Olympic Village for pictures and to the Summer Palace for the remainder of the morning. When we went to lunch, she explained the food and ordered according to our preferences. We had more than enough food and the price for all 5 of us was $30. including tip. We continued to a street market and the snack street and Catherine found a place when we could observe a vendor making 2 different styles of noodles. We particularly wanted to see this and she went out of her way to find the vendor. After 8 hours, Catherine took us back to the hotel and walked us across the street to help us order our dinner so that when we were ready, we would not have a language problem. She went out of her way to be flexible and helpful in all ways. The second day started with prompt pick up to go to Jingshan Park and climb to the top to see the overhead view of the Forbidden City. Beihai Park was next as we wanted to rent the pedal boat and tour the lake where we could see the locals engaging in their exercises and singing and picnicking, always so interesting. For lunch we walked through one of the hutongs to visit a family where Catherine had arranged for us to try our hand at making dumplings. We had a great time preparing part of our lunch while the rest was cooked for us in the family kitchen. We got to see how the family lived and talked with the gentleman while eating his and our delicious food. We passed by the Drum and Bell Towers and headed over to the acrobatic show. We were running a little late due to traffic so Catherine called ahead and reserved our tickets so we could enter as soon as we arrived. At the end of the show, she took us back to the hotel after another full day. Catherine was always friendly, flexible, interesting, well informed and honorable in every way. She narrated each location and was always checking to see if we were pleased with the activities. She took us exactly where we wanted to go and suggested other places to round out our visit. Catherine Lu is your best choice for a private tour guide in Beijing. You would be lucky and pleased to have her guide you.