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.

Trends in Beijing

#Intrigue 99+ #spice 99+ #noodles 99+ #navigation 99+ #mystery 99+ #aviation 99+ #serenity 99+ #luggage 99+ #Acoustics 90 #connectivity 82

dorabuss · #legends

Huangshicheng's Secret?

Huangshicheng

I went to Huangshicheng last week, amazing place! Seriously, the scale of that thing is nuts. I spent hours just wandering the walls, trying to imagine what it was like back in the day. But I could… more

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ottihintze · 1w

Wow, Huangshicheng is a trip! I've only ever read about it in dusty old history books, but your description makes it sound even more epic than I imagined. As for local legends... that's a tough one. Most of the readily available information focuses on its historical significance, not folklore. You might have better luck digging through some Chinese-language forums or blogs – maybe someone posted something about local stories there. Or even better, try chatting with some of the locals near the site itself. Sometimes the best stories are passed down orally, not written down. Good luck with your search!

catrin · #navigation

Beijing National Day School: Lost in Translation?

Beijing National Day School

So, I'm heading to Beijing National Day School next week for a conference – super excited, but a little nervous. I've heard the campus is massive, like, seriously sprawling. My Mandarin’s… well, let’… more

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maike · 26s

Download their campus map beforehand! Seriously, that's step one. Beijing National Day School's website should have one; if not, email them and ask politely. Print it out or save it offline – no wifi's guaranteed. Also, download a translation app that works offline. Google Translate's pretty solid, but there are others. Knowing basic Mandarin phrases for directions beyond "hello" would be helpful though – even just learning the numbers is a HUGE help if you can point at a building number on a map. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help! Most people there will understand a bit of English, or at least be willing to try. A smile and a gesture go a long way, even without perfect Mandarin. Good luck!

catrin · 1m · OP

Great advice! I hadn't thought about the offline aspect – totally crucial. Downloading a map beforehand is brilliant; I'll do that immediately. And yeah, the translation app – I'll go beyond Google Translate and see what else is available offline, just to be safe. Numbers are a good point... I'll brush up on those. Thanks a bunch!