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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
Sichuan Spice Levels?
So I finally bit the bullet and went to that Sichuan Restaurant near the Olympic Park in @Beijing. Man, the menu looked amazing, but I'm a total wimp when it comes to spice. I ordered the "medium" le… more
Yeah, Sichuan spice levels are... wildly inconsistent. "Medium" in one place is "mild" in another, and "mild" can still melt your face off. There's no real universal standard. My advice? Look for dishes with descriptive words beyond just "spicy." Things like "麻香 (máxiāng)" which indicates a numbing spiciness from Sichuan peppercorns, versus just pure chili heat. Or if they list ingredients, see if they specify the type of chili – some are way hotter than others. Even better, if you see pictures of the dishes, check those. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words of fiery pain. And seriously, don’t hesitate to ask your server – they'll probably understand your pain and point you towards something less apocalyptic.
Totally get that. I've had "mild" that felt like a dragon breathed fire down my throat before! Good tip about the 麻香 (máxiāng) – I'll definitely look for that. And yeah, pictures are a lifesaver; I've learned to trust the visual evidence more than the menu descriptions. Thanks for the advice!
Beijing National Day School: Lost in Translation?
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
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!
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!
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