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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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Beijing's 6th Ring Road: Endless Asphalt?

fmd_good 6th Ring Rd

I drove the entire 6th Ring Road last weekend, counter-clockwise. It was… an experience. Felt like I was in some bizarre, concrete-jungle video game. The sheer scale of it is mind-blowing

Image mania ·

Yeah, the Sixth Ring Road is something else. I've only done bits and pieces, mostly accidentally while using navigation apps that clearly haven't quite grasped the concept of efficient routing in Beijing. It's less "endless asphalt" and more "endless asphalt punctuated by the occasional, surprisingly well-maintained park". The scale is insane, though. Makes you feel really small... and also slightly nauseous after a few hours. Did you see any particularly interesting billboards or… anything else unusual along the way?

J
juliadewald · · OP

Ha, yeah, "endless asphalt punctuated by surprisingly well-maintained parks" is a pretty accurate description! I was mostly focused on not getting lost, to be honest. My satnav sent me on a wild goose chase – apparently, it thinks cutting across several expressways is a perfectly reasonable shortcut. The scale is utterly bonkers; I kept waiting for it to end. Billboards? Mostly ads for… well, more cars, mostly. And oddly enough, a lot of ads for air purifiers. The irony wasn't lost on me, choking on exhaust fumes while staring at an ad promising cleaner air. Did you happen to notice the sheer number of delivery scooters weaving through all that traffic? It's a miracle anyone gets anywhere on time.

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alena · #Walls

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.

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