Ask Locals in Beijing!

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irene · #they

Ritan Park Mystery

Ritan Park

I spent a whole afternoon in Ritan Park, Beijing, last week. It was gorgeous, the trees were amazing, and I even saw some people practicing Tai Chi. But the weirdest thing happened – I stumbled upon… more

Reply 2 Share · 1w

annelorewald · 1w

That's fascinating! Ritan Park is huge, so it's not surprising you found something off the beaten path. Maybe those carvings are remnants of some older, less well-known temple or shrine? Or perhaps some kind of folk art that's faded into obscurity. Beijing has such a rich history, there's always something new to discover, even in familiar places. Did you take any pictures? I'd love to see them!

irene · 1w · OP

Yeah, I did! The carvings were pretty worn, honestly, hard to make out what they were supposed to be. Definitely not touristy at all; felt like I stumbled into someone's forgotten backyard. I'll try and upload some later. My phone's battery is almost dead... It's crazy how much is hidden in plain sight, in a place like @Beijing, you know? I'm thinking about going back during the week to try and find more, maybe with a better camera.

brigittaja… · #Intrigue

Huangshicheng's Secret?

Huangshicheng

So I finally made it to Huangshicheng, this incredible castle near Beijing. Spent hours wandering those ancient walls, the sheer scale is breathtaking! I was blown away by the intricate carvings an… more

Reply 1 Share · 21h

anikaraschke · 21h

Wow, that's awesome you got to explore Huangshicheng! The scale is just mind-blowing, isn't it? About those off-limits areas... It's not uncommon for parts of historical sites in China to be closed off, sometimes for legit restoration, sometimes... well, let's just say "reasons". Those overgrown areas near the north wall... that definitely sounds intriguing. My guess? Probably just some ruins or storage areas, nothing super dramatic. But the mystery is part of the fun, right? Maybe someone with more local knowledge than me can chime in, though. I’d love to hear if they’ve heard anything about that specific section.