北京城的胡同长短不一，风格各异。最长的是东交民巷胡同，全长近3千米。最短的是一尺大街胡同，从头到尾仅有25米。最宽的是灵境胡同，目前最宽处可达30多米。最窄的是钱市胡同，最窄处仅40厘米，需侧身通过。弯道最多的是九湾胡同，弯曲之处（curves)不下13处,走在其中，很容易迷路。历史最悠久的要数砖塔胡同，为元代胡同，至今已有700余年历史。

  Hutongs in Beijing have various styles and different lengths. The longest one is Dongjiaominxiang Hutong, with a total length of about 3 kilometers. The shortest one is Yichidajie Hutong, with only 25 meters from beginning to the end. The widest one is Lingjing Hutong, with the widest part reaching over 30 meters at present. The narrowest one is the Qianshi Hutong, and its narrowest part is merely 40 centimeters wide; people must turn sideways to pass through it. Jiuwan Hutong, with at least 13 curves, is the most tortuous one and can easily make you lose your way. The one with the longest history of more than 700 years is the Zhuanta Hutong, whose construction can be traced back to the Yuan Dynasty.