The Brooklyn
of Beijing is
Gulou.
The case for Gulou
The Gulou hutong area is the coolest neighborhood in Beijing for independent music, bookshops, and bar culture.
Gulou is Beijing at its most walkable. The hutong grid around the Drum Tower holds the deepest independent music, bookshop, and bar scene in the city. Wudaoying and Beiluoguxiang are the streets to know, and afternoons here mean pour-over coffee, indie record shops, and small studios rather than spectacle.
Beiluoguxiang, the hutong street at the heart of Gulou, runs 866 metres long and only 7 metres wide, per the official Beijing Tourism authority, a corridor built for footsteps, not cars.
Close contenders
Other cool neighborhoods in Beijing.
798 / Caochangdi
The 798 Art District and adjacent Caochangdi are where Beijing's contemporary galleries cluster. Industrial Bauhaus shells turned into studio buildings, anchor galleries, and a working artist scene. Less walkable than Gulou but the right side trip for anyone serious about Chinese contemporary art.
Three sides of the neighborhood
Where to go in Gulou.
All 22 spots mapped out
Gulou, corner to corner.
Our 22 top picks
The Gulou guide.
Practical info
Good to know.
The boring numbers that decide whether you stay three days or four.
| Currency | CNY |
|---|---|
| Language | Mandarin |
| Cost level | $$$Moderate to expensive |
| Best months | Late September to early November, plus May |
| Local time | UTC+8 |
| Plug type | US, EU & Australian plugs · 220V/50Hz |
| Emergency | 110 police, 120 ambulance, 119 fire |
Local tip
Skip the Forbidden City crowds at midday. Walk Beiluoguxiang from north to south around 4pm into the connecting hutongs and you will see what Beijing actually looks like at street level.
Asia · China
If you like Beijing, try one of these.
Head to head
How does Beijing stack up?
Common questions
Things to know about Gulou.
What is the Brooklyn of Beijing?
The Brooklyn of Beijing is Gulou. Gulou is Beijing at its most walkable. Beiluoguxiang, the hutong street at the heart of Gulou, runs 866 metres long and only 7 metres wide, per the official Beijing Tourism authority, a corridor built for footsteps, not cars.
What is the coolest neighborhood in Beijing?
Gulou is widely considered the coolest neighborhood in Beijing. Gulou is Beijing at its most walkable. The hutong grid around the Drum Tower holds the deepest independent music, bookshop, and bar scene in the city. Wudaoying and Beiluoguxiang are the streets to know, and afternoons here mean pour-over coffee, indie record shops, and small studios rather than spectacle.
Where should I stay in Gulou, Beijing?
The boutique hotel to know in Gulou is The Orchid. Fifteen rooms inside a restored siheyuan on Baochao Hutong, with a rooftop that looks straight at the Drum Tower. Toast, the Mediterranean kitchen downstairs, draws a crowd that isn't staying the night, and there's a sourdough bakery and a dim sum counter on the property too.
Is Gulou in Beijing safe at night?
Gulou is among Beijing's safest neighborhoods, day or night. Violent crime against visitors is rare across the city, and the hutongs around the drum and bell towers stay active until late with bars, snack stalls, and residents. Standard precautions apply: watch for scooters in narrow lanes, keep an eye on bags in crowded bar streets, and ignore tea-ceremony scam approaches near tourist sites.
Is Beijing expensive?
Beijing sits at the upper end for China, though Gulou keeps daily costs manageable. Tipping is not practiced, so no service charge at casual spots. A large bottle of water runs about 3 yuan, and share bikes cost around 1.5 yuan per 15 minutes. Hotels discount most in summer and winter.
When is the best time to visit Beijing?
Aim for late September through early November, when Beijing turns dry and clear at 15-25C and autumn light catches the grey-tiled rooftops. Late April and May run a close second, before summer humidity sets in. Skip July and August, which are hot, wet and smoggy, and January, with its sub-zero dry winds. Check the AQI each morning and mask up above 150.
Last updated