Hutong adventures await

Students try their hand at making Chinese frog buttons (pankou) at Ruifuxiang, a time-honored brand store in Xicheng District's iconic Dashilanr Commercial District. 

Xicheng District in downtown Beijing has rolled out the red carpet for newly arrived international students with a culture and tourism promotion campaign running from early September to November. It invites the students to explore Beijing's historic hutongs, the city's ancient alleyways, through curated CityWalk routes, interactive challenge missions and a range of low-barrier, high-reward "light consumption" experiences.

Xicheng is home to many renowned heritage sites, including Beihai Park, one of China's oldest and best-preserved ancient imperial gardens.