The Widow, the Eunuch, and the Last Emperor: A Lakeside Walk and Exploration with Dr. Jeremiah Jenne
The hutong neighborhoods of Xicheng are less visited – and less touristy – than those of the eastern part of the city. They also were once home to some of Beijing’s most famous faces. We’ll explore the lakeshores and hidden alleys west of the Drum Tower. Along the way, we’ll visit the home of Song Qingling, the widow of the revolutionary Sun Yat-sen, who stayed behind when the rest of her family fled to Taiwan in 1949. We’ll also see the mansion where the Last Emperor was born and visit the Guanghua Temple, where China’s last eunuch Sun Yaoting lived the final years of his life. Along the way, we’ll also explore the history of some of Beijing’s lesser-traveled byways and observe life in Beijing’s hutong neighborhoods.
Duration: About three hours
Upcoming Public The Widow, the Eunuch, and the Last Emperor Walks and Discussions
300 RMB per person (260 RMB for members of The Hutong)
Price includes all admission tickets, guide fees, and tips.
Consider a Private Tour!
Looking for a walk that fits your schedule? Interested in a personal experience for you or your group? The Widow, the Eunuch, and the Last Emperor is available as a private walk for individuals, families, schools, and company groups. Private walks are 1900 RMB for up to five people and 220 RMB for each additional person. The price includes all guide fees and admission tickets.
What others have said...
“We did a walking tour of the hutong, with the incredible Jeremiah as our guide, on our first morning in Beijing. Despite our late arrival (avoid taking taxis!), he graciously waited for us to begin. His knowledge of the history (ancient and modern) of the neighborhoods is expansive, his sense of humor is wonderful, and his love for the city is readily apparent. This is a great way to get to explore the hutong!”
Your Walk Leader
Jeremiah Jenne is a writer and history teacher based in Beijing since 2002. He taught Late Imperial and Modern Chinese History for over 13 years and has written extensively on China for The Economist, South China Morning Post, Journal of Asian Studies, Asia Society/China File, Los Angeles Review of Books, Radii China, The Beijinger, and the World of Chinese. His work can be found in the anthologies China in 2008: A Year of Great Significance, The Insider’s Guide to Beijing, and the 2015 collection While We’re Here: China Stories from a Writer’s Colony. Jeremiah is frequently asked to speak or lead workshops on Chinese history, culture, and cultural adaptation for students, embassies, organizations, and company groups from around the world and is the proprietor of Beijing by Foot, which organizes educational programs and historic walking tours of Beijing’s most famous sites and hidden by-ways. You can follow him on Twitter @jeremiahjenne or online at jeremiahjenne.com.