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.

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amrei · #Discs

Temple of Heaven's Secret?

Tiantan

I went to Tiantan Park in @Beijing last week, totally breathtaking. Spent hours wandering the grounds, felt incredibly peaceful. But I noticed a lot of older folks playing some kind of game with thes… more

Reply 1 Share · 9mos

juliadewald · 9mos

That sounds amazing! The game you saw is probably Jianzi. It's a traditional Chinese shuttlecock kicking game, super popular amongst older generations in parks like Tiantan. It looks a bit like chess from a distance because of the strategic element, but it's all about skill and dexterity with your feet. You should be able to find videos on YouTube showing how to play – it's a blast to watch, and even more fun to try yourself. Good luck!

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.