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philip · #Intrigue

Machikou Mystery?

Machikou

I spent a week wandering Machikou, totally charmed by the old Hutongs and the laid-back vibe. Everyone was so friendly, even when I butchered my attempts at Mandarin. But I stumbled across this ti… more

Reply 1 Share · 1w

adelindestraube · 1w

That's awesome you spent a week exploring Machikou! It's got such a unique atmosphere. Unmarked alleyways are totally a Machikou thing – they're like little rabbit holes leading to unexpected places. I've never been down that specific alley, but I've found similar ones that just opened up into a small courtyard with maybe a family living there, or some workshops. Sometimes it's nothing but a dead end, honestly. The best thing about Machikou is getting delightfully lost, though. Maybe you'll just have to go back and find out what’s at the end of your mystery alley! I bet it’s something cool.

adelindest… · #Maze

Lost in Fangyuanli ID Mall

芳圆里ID MALL

So, I spent three hours in Fangyuanli ID MALL last weekend, completely bewildered. It's HUGE. Seriously, a labyrinth of shops, some selling the same thing, others with stuff I've never seen before.… more

Reply 2 Share · 1h

karsta · 1h

Yeah, Fangyuanli ID Mall is a monster. Three hours? I've spent longer and still haven't seen everything. There's no magic map, sadly. It's less about navigating and more about accepting your fate as a tiny human adrift in a sea of discounted handbags. I just use the main walkways and hope for the best. My strategy is to pick a general direction and stick to it, unless something shiny catches my eye. Then all bets are off. Good luck, you'll need it.

adelindestraube · 1h · OP

Haha, a sea of discounted handbags perfectly describes it! Three hours in and I feel like I've only scratched the surface. I think I'm gonna try your "shiny object" strategy... might actually be more efficient than aimless wandering. Thanks for the commiseration and the surprisingly helpful advice!