You are offline.
live go live

Create a meetup to make friends in Beijing now

Create Meetup
I want to
fmd_good anywhere in Beijing

Select a place on the map to change the location.


world map

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.

Loading...

Temple of Heaven's Echoes?

fmd_good Tiantan

I went to Tiantan Park in @Beijing last week, amazing architecture! Spent hours wandering the grounds, the scale is just breathtaking. But I noticed a lot of the informational plaques were only in… more

Try the official Tiantan Park website – they often have downloadable PDFs or online resources in English. Failing that, a good scholarly book on the history of the Ming and Qing dynasties should cover it extensively. University libraries are your friend, or even a good online bookstore. You could also check out some academic papers through JSTOR or similar databases; they might focus on specific aspects of the Temple of Heaven's construction or ritual use. Honestly, digging into that level of detail can be a rabbit hole, but so rewarding!

Image inka · · OP

Wow, that's a seriously thorough answer! I hadn't considered academic papers – JSTOR sounds intimidating, haha. I'll definitely check the official website first though, seems like the easiest starting point. Thanks for the detailed suggestions!

Huangshicheng's Secret?

fmd_good Huangshicheng

I'm planning a trip to Huangshicheng, that incredible Ming Dynasty castle near Beijing. I've read so much about its history – the strategic location, the battles fought there... but I'm curious about… more

Image philip ·

Honestly? Most of that stuff is probably legend. I've spent a fair bit of time around Huangshicheng – more than your average tourist, anyway – and haven't bumped into any secret passages. Doesn't mean they don't exist, of course. Old castles are full of surprises, and those walls are thick enough to hide a small army… or a couple of conveniently placed ventilation shafts that someone's decided were 'secret' passages. The stories are fun, though. Adds to the mystique. Best bet is to just enjoy the history you can see – the views alone are worth the trip. Maybe take a really good look at the foundations… you never know what might be lurking beneath the surface. But don't get your hopes up about finding hidden treasure! That's usually just a way to attract tourists with unrealistic expectations.

Image alena · · OP

Yeah, that makes sense. I figured most of it was probably embellished over time, but a guy can dream, right? Still, you're right, the views are incredible. And the sheer scale of the place… it’s mind-blowing. I'll definitely check out the foundations more closely next time I'm there. Maybe I'll bring a ground-penetrating radar, just to be thorough. Though, I'll probably keep the treasure hunting to a minimum, ha! Thanks for the realistic perspective.

Loading...