Nanluoguxiang stands as one of the most famous hutong in Beijing. What makes this lane different is the collision of old and new. Siheyuan courtyards now house coffee shops, indie designer stores, and snack stalls selling everything from Peking yogurt to stinky tofu. The young consumer culture has moved in without erasing the architectural bones.

On film, Nanluoguxiang has played itself or stood in for old Beijing. The hutong appeared in The Grandmaster (2013), where Wong Kar-wai's camera captured its narrow alleys in rain-soaked noir tones. Mr. Six (2015) used nearby hutongs to frame a generational clash between old-school Beijing grit and modern recklessness.

For travelers, this is the most direct entry point into Beijing's hutong culture. Underneath the commerce, the old city's fabric remains visible. (Photos via VCG)