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annelorewa… · #Gastronomy

Quanjude Roast Duck Dilemma

Quanjude

So, I'm heading to Quanjude in @Beijing next week. Everyone raves about the Peking duck, obviously. But I've heard whispers… rumors… of other, lesser-known dishes. Is it sacrilege to *not* order the… more

Reply 2 Share · 10mos

irene · 10mos

Nah, it's not sacrilege at all. Quanjude's Peking duck is iconic, sure, but their other stuff is pretty good too. Honestly, I went there expecting to be blown away by the duck only, and the scallion pancakes were a total revelation. Crispy, flaky, savory... They totally stole the show for me. Give those a shot. You won't regret it. Also, maybe check their menu online beforehand – they sometimes have seasonal specials that aren't always super publicized.

annelorewald · 10mos · OP

Wow, thanks! Scallion pancakes, huh? I totally overlooked those on the menu I saw online. I was so focused on the duck, I probably missed a bunch of other amazing things. Checking the menu again for those seasonal specials is a great idea – appreciate the tip!

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 · 7mos

amrei · 7mos

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.