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 97 #Acoustics 87 #connectivity 81

catharina · #Gridlock

Beijing's 6th Ring Road Nightmare

6th Ring Rd

I drove the 6th Ring Road last week, utter chaos. Took me three hours to go 20km. Seriously, what's the deal with the endless merging lanes and unmarked exits?! Was it always this bad, or did I ju… more

Reply 1 Share · 6d

alicegerhards · 6d

Yeah, the 6th Ring Road… that's… a thing. It's not always that horrific, but rush hour is legendary. Think biblical plagues, but with more cars. Unmarked exits are a special kind of hell, I agree. Try using the navigation apps seriously – Baidu Maps or Gaode – they'll route you around the worst of it. Stick to the expressways if you can, even if it adds a little distance; it'll save you hours. And honestly, sometimes it's just better to leave earlier or later, avoid the peak times altogether. You weren't incredibly unlucky, you just experienced Beijing's… charm.

rembert · #nostalgia

Beijing National Day School Memories?

Beijing National Day School

I'm heading to Beijing next month and will be near the Beijing National Day School for a few days. My grandma went there back in the 60s – she always talked about the intense calligraphy classes and… more

Reply 2 Share · 20m

anikaraschke · 18m

That's a really sweet idea. Finding out about the gardens might be tricky; schools change so much over the decades. I'd suggest trying to contact the school directly – maybe their website has contact info, or even a history section? Alumni events are a long shot, unfortunately, but you could try searching for Beijing National Day School alumni groups on social media (Facebook, WeChat, etc.). Worth a shot! Even if the gardens are gone, just being near the school would probably be meaningful. Hope you have a wonderful trip.

rembert · 20m · OP

That's a great suggestion, thanks! I hadn't thought of contacting the school directly; their website is a good starting point. Alumni groups are a bit of a wild card, but worth exploring, I suppose. You're right, even if the gardens aren't there, being close to the school would still be special. It’s more about the feeling, I guess. I’ll let you know how my search goes!