Most of the Hutongs which remain today were formed in the Ming and Qing dynasties. But you can still find some from the Yuan dynasty. For instance, the Zhuanta Hutong in Xisi on the west side of the city is a typical example. In the Yuan dramas this Hutong was often mentioned. The area was also the home of famous playwright Guan Hanqing, China's Shakespeare of the Yuan Dynasty.

Over the last 7 centuries with the growth of the city, more and more Hutongs appeared, but they were not the same as the old ones. During the Qing Dynasty in the 17th century, the Manchu people who used to live in North China ruled. After they overthrew the Ming Dynasty, they divided Manchu people into eight banners.

Over the last 7 centuries with the growth of the city, more and more Hutongs appeared, but they were not the same as the old ones. During the Qing Dynasty in the 17th century, the Manchu people who used to live in North China ruled. After they overthrew the Ming Dynasty, they divided Manchu people into eight banners. Each of them was distinguished by a different colour. With the growth of the population the city had to expand. So the Manchu people with all the banners, lived in the inner city. Han people, whether high ranking or ordinary people were driven to the outer city. There they built their houses randomly. And a lot of Hutongs appeared.

Since then, Beijing has quite many Hutongs with different shapes, Lengths or directions. The shortest one is just 10 meters' long, and the narrowest Hutong is only about 40 centimeters' wide. some Hutongs have more than 20 turns. And slanting Hutongs also appeared due to the terrain. The majority of hutongs run straight from east to west, some from north to south. That has resulted from the need for houses to face south so as to take in more sunshine and resist cold wind from the north.

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