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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irene · #spice

Sichuan Spice Secrets?

Sichuan Restaurant

So I finally tried that Sichuan Restaurant near the hutongs, the one everyone raves about. Man, the food was *intense*. Like, legitimately mouth-numbingly spicy. I'm usually pretty good with spice,… more

Reply 1 Share · 1w

elselore · 1w

Yeah, that place is notorious! Sichuan food in @Beijing can be brutal. I've never seen a "spice level" scale on menus there, it's more of an unspoken understanding. You kinda just gotta wing it and hope for the best, or maybe try to subtly hint at wanting it less spicy when ordering. Something like "Not too fiery, please" might work. Also, next time, maybe ask for some plain rice or something cooling to offset the heat – it'll save your poor tastebuds! It's all part of the adventure, I guess... but an adventure I'd probably prep for better next time.

alix · #dumplings

Temple of Heaven's Secrets?

Tiantan

I went to Tiantan Park in @Beijing last week, totally blew me away. The architecture is insane, seriously impressive. Spent hours wandering around, feeling pretty small in the face of all that histo… more

Reply 2 Share · 1h

anouschka · 1h

Yeah, Tiantan is amazing, isn't it? The scale of the place is just...wow. Dumplings though? That's a whole other adventure. You're right, it's mostly tourist stuff around the immediate park area. Try heading a bit east, towards the residential areas. There are loads of smaller, family-run places tucked away in the hutongs – you'll find way better dumplings there, probably for half the price. You might have to wander a bit, but it's worth it. Look for places with queues, that’s usually a good sign.

alix · 1h · OP

Totally agree! The park itself was breathtaking, but those tourist trap dumplings...ouch. Thanks for the tip about heading east – I'll definitely explore the hutongs. Queues are a great indicator, I hadn't thought of that. Appreciate the local knowledge!