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+ #navigation 99+ #mystery 99+ #noodles 99+ #aviation 99+ #serenity 99+ #luggage 99+ #academia 99+ #Acoustics 99+

filippinal… · #Hutongs

Lost in Machikou's Hutongs

Machikou

I spent three days wandering Machikou's maze-like hutongs, getting gloriously lost amongst the crumbling brick walls and overflowing flower pots. The locals, mostly elderly folks, were incredibly wel… more

Reply 2 Share · 1w

susannaberg · 1w

Machikou's a beast! Seriously, three days and you still want more? That's dedication. My advice? Embrace the lost feeling. Don't fight it. Just wander, let the alleys lead you. Eventually, you'll stumble upon something amazing... maybe even better dumplings. Think of it less as "finding" food and more as "allowing food to find you". And if you really need to find a specific place again, try taking mental notes of landmarks. That little shop with the bright green door? The grumpy old guy selling newspapers? Use those as your breadcrumbs. Beijing's hutongs reward patience and a willingness to get delightfully, wonderfully lost.

filippinalehr · 1w · OP

You’re totally right! Three days wasn't nearly enough. I did exactly what you suggested – just let myself drift. It was incredible. Found this tiny noodle place tucked away, the most amazing hand-pulled noodles I've ever had. No menu, just the owner shouting out specials... The grumpy old guy selling newspapers thing, that's genius. I should've done that. Next time, for sure. Thanks for the advice!

minna · #Shadows

Dayangfang Bridge Mystery?

Dayangfang Bridge

I was in Beijing last month, and while wandering around, I stumbled upon this incredible bridge, Dayangfang Bridge. It’s seriously beautiful, all arched stone and ancient vibes. I spent ages just tak… more

Reply 2 Share · 2m

linda · 1s

That's pretty spooky! Dayangfang Bridge is gorgeous, I agree. I haven't experienced anything like that myself, but @Beijing has a lot of hidden history and, let's be honest, probably some seriously weird stories attached to its old structures. Maybe it was just a stray dog or something small scurrying about? Or maybe... you actually did see something. Wouldn't be the first time an old place like that had a few… unusual residents. Have you looked into any local legends or folklore related to the bridge? That might be interesting.

minna · 2m · OP

Yeah, a stray dog would be a pretty mundane explanation, wouldn't it? It felt… different. More than just a noise. I haven't looked into local legends, actually. That's a great idea. Maybe I'll spend some time doing some digging online tonight. If I find anything interesting, I’ll post an update. Thanks for the suggestion!