About US
Nestled in a century-old courtyard in Beijing’s historic Dashilar district, 93 Courtyard Museum is where heritage comes alive—not behind glass, but in your hands, on your walks, and over a cup of coffee.
We believe a museum doesn’t have to be a grand building. Sometimes, it’s a quiet siheyuan tucked down a hutong alley. This is a museum you can touch, taste, and wander through.
Step inside to find a sun-dappled courtyard where master artisans welcome you as participants. Over 20 craft workshops invite you to dye, carve, and paint, turning raw materials into living traditions. Beyond our walls, the neighborhood becomes your gallery. Our curated walking routes lead you through antique bookshops and hidden studios, revealing the authentic pulse of old Beijing.
When you return, our courtyard café awaits. At 93 Courtyard, history is in the clay you shape, the alleys you wander, and the cup you hold. Welcome to our living heritage.
What We Offer
20+ Heritage Workshops
From tie-dye and filigree enamel to Peking opera figurines, our 20+ hands-on workshops are led by master artisans and designed for all skill levels. No experience is needed—just bring your curiosity and your hands. Shape the clay, dye the fabric, and carve the wood. Every session ends with a finished piece of living heritage, handmade by you, ready to take home.
4 Hutong Walks
Step outside our gates and the entire neighborhood becomes your gallery. Our curated walking routes wind through Liulichang's antique bookshops, Yangmeizhu's creative alleyways, and Dashilan's century-old artisan shops. Along the way, you'll encounter hidden courtyards, meet local shop owners, and uncover stories etched into every brick. Each walk is a living chapter of Beijing's cultural memory, waiting to be explored.
Café & Courtyard
Culture is best enjoyed at a relaxed pace, and our tranquil Café & Courtyard is the perfect place to pause. Sip a meticulously brewed specialty coffee or a fragrant cup of traditional Chinese tea, surrounded by blue-brick walls and dappled sunlight. Settle into our cozy courtyard seating, admire the classic architecture, and reflect on your journey. It is a quiet sanctuary where time slows down and heritage breathes.
Small, intimate, and deeply rooted in place, 93 Courtyard Museum invites you to experience Beijing’s living heritage the way locals do: one workshop, one walk, and one cup at a time.
Come for the culture. Stay for the courtyard. Leave with a story.
Craft Workshops
Creativity needs no translation. At No. 93 Courtyard Museum, we invite you to sit down with master artisans and create something extraordinary with your own hands. With over 20 immersive workshops to choose from, every visit opens a new door into China’s living traditions.
Step into our sunlit courtyard studio, where raw materials become vessels of meaning. Fold and bind fabric into natural indigo, watching unrepeatable patterns bloom across the cloth. Bend fine copper wires into elegant motifs, then fill them with luminous enamel, reviving an imperial art once reserved for palace halls. Carve translucent leather into silhouette figures that dance behind a lit screen, just as they have for over a thousand years. Sculpt whimsical clay toys, paint opera masks rich with hidden symbolism, or swirl lacquer pigments on water and capture a fleeting, painterly pattern on a fan—a moment of beauty that can never be replicated.
Each workshop is a quiet dialogue between past and present, between the master’s hands and yours. No prior experience is needed. Sessions range from one to three hours and are suitable for ages six and up. All materials are provided. You leave not just with a souvenir, but with a piece of living heritage, shaped by your own curiosity and care.
Come as you are. Leave as a maker.
Hutong Walks: The District as a Museum Accessible
At No. 93 Courtyard, we believe the museum has no walls. Step outside our doors, and the entire neighborhood becomes your gallery. This is DAMa—District As Museum accessible—a philosophy that transforms centuries-old alleyways, hidden courtyards, and living storefronts into an open-air cultural experience. Here, the hutong is not a backdrop; it is the exhibition itself.
Forget rigid tour buses and scripted commentary. Our Hutong Walks are intimate, unhurried, and guided by locals who know every brick and every story. You won’t just pass through—you’ll pause to greet a shopkeeper, trace the faded carvings on a weathered doorframe, and hear the tales that don’t make it into guidebooks.
Choose from four themed routes, each offering a unique lens on Beijing’s living history. Wander through Liulichang’s antique bookshops steeped in Confucian wisdom. Trace the footsteps of Peking Opera legends. Discover the merchant soul of Dashilan’s century-old brands. Or explore Yangmeizhu’s creative alleyways, where old courtyards house new dreams. No two walks are the same—because no two days in the hutong ever are.
Join us, and let the hutong become your most memorable open-air museum.
Café & Courtyard: A Tranquil Sanctuary in the Heart of Beijing
After exploring the alleyways and crafting your own heritage masterpiece, there is one final experience waiting for you—a moment of stillness in our Courtyard Café.
Nestled within the tranquil embrace of our restored Siheyuan, our café is more than a place to refuel. It is part of the museum experience itself. Sit beneath the ancient locust tree, where sunlight dances through the leaves onto weathered stone tiles. The soundtrack is simple: birdsong, the distant chime of a bicycle bell from the hutong, and the quiet hum of conversation.
Our menu celebrates both local tradition and global taste. Choose from:
- Specialty Coffee: Single-origin pour-overs, velvety lattes, and our signature courtyard cold brew.
- Chinese Teas: Curated loose-leaf teas, from delicate jasmine pearls to aged Pu’er.
- Seasonal Treats: Light bites and pastries inspired by the 24 solar terms of the Chinese calendar.
Whether you’re journaling about your travels, sketching the courtyard architecture, or simply doing nothing at all, you are welcome here. The courtyard has stood for over a hundred years. It knows how to wait. Let it teach you to slow down. No workshop ticket is needed to visit. Simply step in, find your seat, and let the courtyard embrace you.
Visit & Plan
Located in the heart of Beijing’s historic hutong district, No. 93 Courtyard Museum is easily accessible and open to all. Here’s everything you need to plan your visit.
📍 Location & Getting Here
Address: No. 93 Tieshuxiejie, Xicheng District, Beijing (Near Dashilan)
- By Subway: Take Line 7 to Hufangqiao Station or Line 2 to Qianmen Station, followed by a pleasant 10-minute walk through the historic neighborhood.
- By Taxi / DiDi (Ride-Hailing): Show this to your driver: “请带我去西城区铁树斜街93号（93号院博物馆）”. Note: Cars cannot enter the narrow hutongs; you will be dropped off at the alley entrance.
- Parking: As we are nestled within a historic pedestrian hutong, there is no on-site parking. We highly recommend public transit or ride-hailing.
🕰️ Hours & Admission
- Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM | Open 7 days a week.
- General Entry: Free to explore the courtyard and enjoy the café.
- Heritage Workshops: $55 per person / per session.
- Hutong Walks : $80 per person / per route.
- Combo Offer: Book a Workshop + Walk package and enjoy a 10% discount!
Culture knows no language barriers. From bilingual signage and café menus to our dedicated English-speaking guides, No. 93 Courtyard Museum is committed to providing a welcoming, accessible, and deeply engaging experience for all our international guests.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Wandering the courtyard and visiting the café requires no reservation. However, our Heritage Workshops and Hutong Walks have limited capacity to ensure quality; advance booking is highly recommended.
Absolutely. Our workshops are designed to be family-friendly and accessible to all ages. Children aged 6 and above can participate in most crafts independently. Younger children are welcome to join alongside a parent or guardian. We’ve seen many little hands create surprisingly beautiful works here!
Yes. While our front desk staff can assist in basic English, our in-depth Workshops and Hutong Walks are led by specialized bilingual cultural interpreters. Advance reservation is required to secure an English-speaking guide for your experience.
Yes! We offer private group bookings and customized cultural experiences for families, corporate teams, and special occasions. Please contact us directly at michael_xgw@hotmail.com to discuss your bespoke itinerary.
