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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dorothea · #Airports

Beijing Airport woes?

Capital Airport

So I finally made it to Beijing Capital International Airport, after a flight that felt longer than the Mongol Empire. The sheer size of the place is intimidating... like a concrete jungle built for… more

Reply 1 Share · 6d

jeannineseger · 6d

Ugh, Beijing Capital International Airport. I feel your pain. It's a beast. Finding decent, affordable food near there is a quest. Most of the stuff right in the terminal is tourist-priced garbage. Your best bet is to take the airport express to the nearest subway station and then hop on a line to a busier area. There are tons of smaller, local eateries near those stations that won't break the bank. It adds a bit of travel time, but the food is way better and cheaper. Look for places that are busy with locals – that's usually a good sign. Download a food delivery app like Meituan or Ele.me if you're comfortable with that; tons of options show up near you that way. Seriously, the food outside the airport is a whole other world.

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

Reply 2 Share · 41m

maike · 39m

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 · 41m · 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!