From the hotel, the guide and driver will take you deep into the hutongs to a house tucked away in a traditional courtyard. This excursion is focused on an extraordinary museum filled with all sorts of daily necessities that reflect traditional life in this area. The director of the unique ‘museum of old objects’ has spent his life collecting memorabilia, vintage items and ancient tools, each of which offers an insight into a different age.

The museum is crammed full of fascinating historical pieces along with everyday objects. There are teapots, irons, old-fashioned dial telephones, kettles dating from the Qing Dynasty and present-day items. This is truly a compact bazaar of collectibles, including elaborate three-inch golden lotus shoes and simple straw sandals dating back to an unknown era that hang on the wall. Another prominent display is two large retro cassette recorders positioned on a wooden cabinet – a symbol of reform and the opening up of the country. This house is a real treasure trove of lost items – now found and preserved for posterity in this unpretentious museum.