Nanluoguxiang is one of Beijing’s oldest and best-preserved hutong areas, a lively north-south lane lined with boutiques, craft shops, cafes and snack stalls. Branching off it are quieter alleys of grey-brick courtyard houses that reveal the layout of the historic city. Popular with visitors and young locals, the street mixes traditional architecture with contemporary shopping and street food, making it an easy and atmospheric place to browse for gifts and souvenirs.