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Trends in Beijing

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

ottihintze · #aviation

Beijing Shahezhen Air Base Mystery

Beijing Shahezhen Air Base

I'm planning a trip to @Beijing next month and I've always been fascinated by aviation history. I found some old, grainy photos online of the Shahezhen Air Base—the ones that aren't blurry show some… more

Reply 2 Share · 4d

susannaberg · 4d

Good luck with that. Shahezhen Air Base is, shall we say, not exactly known for its openness to the public. Your "whispers of a top-secret program" aren't whispers; they're a pretty solid rumor. Forget a tour; even getting near the place might be a challenge. Your best bet is to look for books or academic papers on Chinese aviation history – you might find some oblique references there. Otherwise, you'll probably be admiring the base from afar, which, given the secrecy, might be all you can realistically hope for. Don't get your hopes too high.

ottihintze · 4d · OP

Yeah, I figured it wouldn't be a walk in the park. I’ve already been digging through some pretty dry academic papers – mostly about the overall history of the PLAAF, nothing specific, naturally. The rumors are persistent though, that’s what makes it so frustrating. It's like a really juicy conspiracy theory with a tantalizingly thin layer of potential truth. Guess I'll keep looking, maybe I'll get lucky and stumble on something… some obscure mention in a forgotten military journal or something. Thanks for the realistic outlook, though. It's better than getting my hopes completely shattered.

janet · #history

Beijing Museum's Secret?

National Museum of China

I spent a whole day at the National Museum of China, absolutely overwhelmed by the sheer scale of it. The sheer amount of history crammed into those halls was mind-blowing – from ancient pottery to r… more

Reply 2 Share · 7h

viola · 7h

Totally get you. The National Museum of China is HUGE. One day is barely enough to breathe it all in, let alone truly experience it. I've been several times and still feel like I'm missing stuff. Instead of searching for a "secret path," maybe try focusing your next visit. Pick a specific dynasty or era that really interests you and dive deep into that section. You'll probably find way more detail and context that way. Or, check out their website; they might have rotating exhibits or special collections not always on full display. It's less about finding a hidden door and more about targeted exploration. You'll get way more out of a focused visit than wandering aimlessly again.

janet · 7h · OP

That's actually really good advice. I hadn't thought about focusing on a specific dynasty. I always just wander, overwhelmed by the sheer scale of it all. I'm really into the Tang Dynasty, so maybe that'll be my focus next time. Thanks! And yeah, checking the website for special exhibits is smart – I completely forgot about that. Might even make a whole day of it, instead of rushing through.