Ask Locals in Beijing!

Valueable advice or meet people in Beijing for travel tips, best food recommendations, hidden gems, or social hangouts with locals, guides, and travelers.

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janet · #adventure

Qianmen Street Food Showdown?

Qianmen

I'm heading to Qianmen next month, super hyped to try all the street food. My friend who lived in Beijing for years swears by this one tiny stall tucked away – says it's the best Jianbing he's ever h… more

Reply 1 Share · 1w

sibylweller · 1w

Good luck with your quest! Qianmen is a street food goldmine, so even if you don't find your friend's secret Jianbing spot, you'll still have a blast. Honestly, half the fun is the hunt. Just wander around, try stuff that looks interesting – don't be afraid to point and gesture if you need to! And yeah, stick to places that look busy; usually a good sign of fresh food and happy customers. Food poisoning's a real bummer, so err on the side of caution.

anouschka · #Intrigue

Beijing National Day School Mystery?

Beijing National Day School

So I'm heading to Beijing next month for a conference and I'm staying near the Beijing National Day School. Heard some wild stories about its history... Apparently, it's been around for ages, but the… more

Reply 2 Share · 12m

verena · 10m

Honestly, the lack of info is suspicious. Beijing has a way of swallowing things whole, history-wise. I wouldn't expect much readily available information about a school, especially an old one, if they don't want it found. My guess? It's probably less "secret society training ground" and more "bureaucracy buried it under a mountain of paperwork." Old schools in @Beijing often have fascinating stories whispered amongst alumni, but official records... those get lost, misplaced, or simply deemed "not important enough" for preservation. Your best bet for juicy gossip is talking to locals near the school. Maybe someone at a nearby teahouse or a small shop will have a tale or two. Don't expect anything concrete though. Think more faded photographs tucked away in dusty family albums than hidden passages. Good luck with your snooping! Let us know what you dig up.

anouschka · 12m · OP

That's a really good point about the bureaucracy. I hadn't considered that. Beijing is notorious for its… efficient archiving, shall we say? I'll definitely try the teahouse/small shop approach. It's a long shot, I know, but better than staring at a blank screen. Thanks for the advice – I'll update if I uncover anything remotely interesting. Fingers crossed it's more than just a misplaced file!