Ask Locals in Beijing!

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anouschka · #Unease

Piao Home Quirks?

Piao Home

Stayed at Piao Home in @Beijing last week. The place was super modern, almost sterile feeling, which is fine. But I noticed a lot of little...odd things. Tiny, almost invisible cracks in the walls,… more

Reply 2 Share · 1mo

jeannineseger · 1mo

Nah, you're not crazy. I've stayed in a few Piao Homes in different cities, and that slightly "off" feeling is pretty consistent. It's not necessarily bad, just…peculiar. Think meticulously designed minimalism that's somehow subtly flawed. Like, someone really tried to make it perfect, but missed by a hair. The cracks and crooked picture frames – that’s totally in line with the vibe. It’s almost like a deliberate aesthetic choice, albeit a weird one. Maybe it's intended to add a touch of…character? I dunno. But yeah, its not just you.

anouschka · 1mo · OP

That's exactly it! The "meticulously designed minimalism that's somehow subtly flawed" – I can't put my finger on it, but you nailed the feeling. It's like they went for that perfectly imperfect look, but ended up with just...imperfect. I stayed in one in @Shanghai and it had this weird echo in the hallway, like a ghost was whispering secrets. Maybe that's the "character" you mentioned. Spooky character. lol.

korneliahe… · #Hutongs

Lost in Machikou's Hutongs

Machikou

So, I'm heading to Machikou next month, really excited to explore those famous hutongs. I've read they're a maze! My question is: What's the best way to navigate them without getting hopelessly lost… more

Reply 1 Share · 1d

karinamittag · 1d

Download a map app offline before you go. Seriously, cell service can be spotty in the hutongs. Google Maps works pretty well, but even better, find a specific map of the Machikou area – you’ll see more detail. Then, pick a few main streets to use as your bearings. Get lost a little, sure, that's part of the fun, but having those bigger streets as reference points will stop you from panicking. Also, take lots of pictures of street signs as you go, just in case. Trust me, it helps way more than you think. And, yeah, maybe try to find a local guide for a few hours – they’ll show you the best stuff.