A hútòng is a narrow, traditional alleyway found in Beijing, typically formed by lines of courtyard residences called siheyuan. Historically, these alleys date back to the Yuan Dynasty and reflect Beijing’s unique urban layout and residential culture. Though the characters hú and tòng individually mean 'non-Han ethnic group' and 'together/same', respectively, their combination here is phonetic and historical — not semantic. The term has no relation to ethnicity or unity in meaning; it evolved from the Mongolian word hottog, meaning 'well', referencing the shared wells once located in these alleys.

Today, hútòngs are cultural landmarks — many preserved as tourist sites or revitalized with cafes and art spaces, while others remain residential. They evoke a sense of old Beijing, community life, and architectural heritage. Using hútòng always implies this specific Beijing context; it is not used for generic alleys elsewhere in China (those are usually called xiàngzi or lòng). The plural is identical to the singular in form.