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When her family petitioned for her body to be returned, she was brought up from the well a month later, but her skin was still perfectly pristine. The eunuch later poisoned the emperor with arsenic, but, like with all good stories, came to a grisly end himself. We'll say no more. These incidents might be recorded in history, but the whole ghostly dimension has subsequently formed and developed devilishly. In fact, as the tour is all within what was the Imperial City, it's generally a better class of ghosts you'll be hearing about. None of the lonely old washerwoman claptrap, thank goodness.

It's not all nasty though－there's the dutiful ghost of the heroic People's Liberation Army soldier who died saving students who'd fallen through the ice on Houhai lake. Apparently he's looking over all those who take to their skates on the lake today. Don't leave going on this tour too late－Beijing's old and haunted architecture is always under threat of demolition. There are plans to pull down the city's most haunted house, known as 81 Chaonei Dajie. This baroque French mansion was once a hospital and church, so is a veritable breeding ground for the living dead.

Along the way you get to see details of areas you've probably taken for granted by now, as well as others you've always meant to get around to like Prince Gong's Mansion. And as the topic is so niche, a lot of the content will be new stuff to most, so it's suitable for new arrivals or old timers alike. Be warned, however: after hearing about what's happened on these familiar streets, you may never look at hutong the same way again. Meet at Exit B of Beihaibei subway station. Private tours can be arranged, and there's an extended two-and-a-half hour select version with extra thrills. On Saturday 31, for Halloween, the public tour will be upgraded to the Select version at no extra cost. Advance booking only.

Contact: 138-1777-0229

Maliandao Tea Tour

Date: April 19－10 am

Venue: Newman Tours

Price: 300 yuan

Join a group of fellow tea connoisseurs, amateurs and thirsty friends on a journey to Beijing's Maliandao Tea City, an area filled with the best tea wholesaling and tasting in the region. Start the late morning off with some light green teas, then a spectacular North-west Fujian-style lunch, followed by an afternoon of darker and more robust teas. A relaxing way to take in tons of information and participate in eye-opening discussions. Free access to excellent tea and gift-shopping at the end of the program. E-mail to info@thehutong.com for more information.

Contact: 159-0104-6127