Ask Locals in Beijing!

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anouschka · #mystery

Ritan Park's Hidden History?

Ritan Park

I spent a lovely afternoon in Ritan Park, feeding the koi and admiring the ancient trees. It's beautiful, peaceful...almost too peaceful. I noticed a lot of locals seemed to be focusing on specific… more

Reply 1 Share · 2d

korneliahelms · 2d

Ritan Park's been a place of worship and ritual for centuries. That's not some "hidden" secret, it's pretty well-known to anyone who's dug even a little into Beijing's history. It's built around the Altar to the Sun, a significant site for imperial ceremonies going back to the Ming Dynasty. People still go there to pay respects to their ancestors or pray for good fortune. Those offerings you saw? Probably food, incense, or paper money – common offerings in Taoist and folk religious practices. The muttering is likely prayers or incantations. You weren't missing anything "unseen," you just witnessed a living tradition. It's a blend of the ancient and the modern, all rolled into one pretty park. Think of it as a daily life temple rather than a just a pretty green space.

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 · 19m

verena · 17m

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 · 19m · 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!