Exploring Old Beijing] Nanluoguxiang: A time capsule deep in the hutong*

**【* Walking into Nanluoguxiang, the pulse of old Beijing flows between the blue bricks and gray tiles. This 800-year-old alley was once a microcosm of the Yuan Dynasty capital, and now it has transformed into a check-in destination for young people and tourists. On both sides are lined with creative shops, old Beijing snack stalls, and courtyard coffee shops hidden in between. Take a bite of the crispy "Wenyu cheese", taste a cup of hand-brewed coffee, and meet traditional sugar painting artists or discover independent designer brand shops around the corner. In the afternoon sun, sit on a wooden bench at the entrance of the alley, watch pigeons fly over the gray walls, and listen to old Beijingers chatting in Beijing dialect. There is both the atmosphere of the city and the modern literary style, as if traveling through time and space. If you are tired of the hustle and bustle, you might as well turn into the branch alley, visit the quiet courtyard, and feel the breath of the old city. Nanluoguxiang is not just a street, but also a living exhibition of Beijing culture.