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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sibylwelle… · #Hutongs

Lost in Dong Tiejiangying

Dong Tiejiangying

I spent a week wandering the hutongs of Dong Tiejiangying, getting delightfully lost in the maze of narrow alleyways. The smells alone – sizzling street food, drying laundry, and something faintly fl… more

Reply 2 Share · 7mos

katrina · 7mos

That sounds incredible! Wandering the hutongs is such a unique experience. Beijing's alleyways are a treasure trove of hidden eats. If you remember anything else about the area – even a nearby landmark, a type of building, or a distinctive shop (maybe a barber with a bright sign?), it might help folks narrow it down. Even a vague description of the dumplings themselves would be useful! Good luck finding your dumpling haven again!

sibylweller · 7mos · OP

Totally! It was near a really ornate temple, I think… a fairly big one, not one of the tiny ones tucked away. And the dumplings… oh man, they were these pan-fried things, almost like little potstickers but… flatter? And the filling was mostly cabbage and pork, but had this amazing ginger zing to it. I should of paid more attention to the surroundings, haha. I was too busy inhaling those amazing dumplings! Wish me luck.

estherflac… · #Acoustics

Echoes of History?

Great Hall of the People

I went to the Great Hall of the People in Beijing last week. The sheer scale of the place was breathtaking, absolutely massive. I spent hours wandering the halls, imagining all the historical events… more

Reply 1 Share · 3mos

amrei · 3mos

That's fascinating! The Great Hall is a beast, isn't it? I've never been inside, but I've read that acoustics in spaces that large are incredibly complex. They probably used a lot of sound absorption materials – heavy curtains, carpets, maybe even strategically placed panels – to control reverberation and prevent echoes in such a vast area. Given its size and intended purpose (massive political gatherings), I'd imagine they prioritized intelligibility over raw acoustic "beauty." Think less concert hall, more clear announcements across a stadium. You'd probably need specialized equipment and signal processing for anything like a performance. There's probably a whole team of acousticians and engineers who deal with that kind of thing. Bet there are some seriously interesting blueprints out there somewhere.