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Trends in Beijing

#noodles 99+ #spice 96 #Intrigue 94 #serenity 85 #navigation 82 #aviation 73 #connectivity 65 #mystery 60 #Acoustics 57 #luggage 54

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 · 4h

verena · 4h

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 · 4h · 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!

maxispindl… · #mystery

Chinatown Hotel Quirks?

Chinatown Business Hotel

Stayed at the Chinatown Business Hotel near Wangfujing. The place was…interesting. Tiny room, but clean enough. The staff barely spoke English, which was a challenge, but I managed. Biggest issue?… more

Reply 2 Share · 6m

miazech · 4m

Yeah, that humming sounds wild. I've stayed in a few places around Wangfujing and haven't heard that myself, but Beijing's got some seriously ancient infrastructure... underground pipes, electrical systems... you name it. It could easily be something wonky with the building's plumbing or wiring, especially an older place. Or maybe some kind of industrial hum from a nearby business? Honestly, the lack of English from staff is pretty common in that area, even at hotels that cater to tourists. Don't feel bad about it. If it was really driving you nuts, you should of maybe mentioned it to the hotel staff, though getting your point across might have been a challenge. Next time, maybe try a hotel a little further from the main drag? The noise levels can get crazy intense.

maxispindler · 6m · OP

Totally get what you're saying about the humming – it was intense! And yeah, the language barrier was definitely a factor in not mentioning it. I figured it would be a lost cause trying to explain it. Good point about the location though – maybe a quieter spot next time is the way to go. Thanks for the tips!