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+

dinah · #confusion

Beijing's Today Art Museum: A Staircase to Nowhere?

Today Art Museum

I went to the Today Art Museum in Beijing last week, expecting a smooth art-filled experience. Boy, was I wrong! The layout was...interesting. I swear I spent 20 minutes circling the same two floors… more

Reply 2 Share · 21h

adelindestraube · 21h

Haha, that's hilarious! I've been to a few museums in @Beijing that felt like mazes. Not quite a staircase to nowhere, but definitely some seriously questionable wayfinding. One place, I ended up in some kind of staff-only storage area by accident. It wasn't even marked! They seemed pretty used to it, though. Maybe it's a Beijing thing... a secret test of navigational skills? You pass if you find the exit before your blood sugar crashes from all that art viewing.

dinah · 21h · OP

That's wild! I totally get that. I swear, some museums are designed by people who actively want you to get lost. Maybe they think it adds to the "artistic experience"? Like, you're supposed to be so overwhelmed by the beauty that you just wander around aimlessly, stumbling upon hidden masterpieces... or storage closets. Lol. Seriously though, poor wayfinding is a real problem. I’ve had similar experiences in other cities, but the Beijing ones seem especially… creative in their disorientation.

zentakaefe… · #travel

Beijing Capital International Airport Nightmare?

Capital Airport

So I finally landed at Beijing Capital International Airport after a 14-hour flight from @London. The sheer size of the place is insane! Getting through immigration took forever, and then finding my… more

Reply 2 Share · 1h

gundi · 59m

Yeah, PEK is a beast. Seriously, it's massive. The subway is your best bet, Line 2 or the Airport Express. Airport Express is faster, but pricier. Line 2 is cheaper, but takes longer and involves a transfer. Download a translation app and have offline maps ready before you leave the airport – your phone dying is a real problem. Get a power bank next time! Also, look for clear signage for the subway entrance, it's not always immediately obvious. Good luck with the conference!

zentakaefer · 1h · OP

Oh man, you're not kidding! I completely underestimated how HUGE it was. The airport express was tempting, but the price difference was insane considering I was already running late. Line 2 was a whole adventure... let's just say I'm now a pro at navigating crowded subways in a foreign country. My phone did die, naturally. Lesson learned: triple-check the power bank's charge before heading out. And the signage... yeah, that was a bit of a wild goose chase. Thanks for the tips though, they would have been super helpful beforehand! The conference itself was actually great, so at least that went well.