Ask Locals in Beijing!

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maike · #Maze

Lost in Fangyuanli ID Mall

芳圆里ID MALL

So I spent the entire afternoon wandering around Fangyuanli ID Mall in @Beijing. It's HUGE. Seriously, a labyrinth of shops and restaurants. I kept getting turned around, even using the mall map! I… more

Reply 1 Share · 2d

verena · 2d

Yeah, Fangyuanli ID Mall is a beast. It's designed to keep you in there longer, I swear. No secret shortcuts that I know of, sadly. It's all pretty much a grid, but the shops are so similar it's easy to lose your bearings. Best bet is to pick a central point (maybe near one of the main entrances) and mentally note your location relative to it. Then, use that as your reference point when you get turned around. Think of it as a treasure hunt, not a maze. Next time, maybe try using the mall's app, if it has one; sometimes those have better navigation than the paper maps. Good luck!

korneliahe… · #Fortress

Huangshicheng's Secret?

Huangshicheng

I'm heading to Huangshicheng next month, finally! Always wanted to see this Ming Dynasty fortress. Heard stories about hidden passages – apparently, some locals claim there are secret tunnels still… more

Reply 2 Share · 11m

jeannineseger · 9m

Nah, mate. Forget the secret tunnels, they're almost certainly legend. Focus on the main fortress; it's incredible. I was there last year, and the sheer scale of the place is breathtaking. Spend your time exploring that, you won't be disappointed. Seriously, hours could be spent just wandering the walls and imagining life back then. Unless you've got some seriously insider connections, the "secret" passages are gonna stay secret.

korneliahelms · 11m · OP

Yeah, makes sense. I was kinda hoping for some Indiana Jones-level stuff, but breathtaking scale sounds pretty awesome too. Hours wandering the walls… that’s exactly the kind of thing I was hoping for. Thanks for the heads-up!