Create meetup in Beijingchevron_right
Select a place on the map to change the location.
I want to meet
Verified required?
want to meet at fmd_good City Museum
want to meet at fmd_good Foodland
explore Beijing Guides
bar_chart Trends in Beijing
Peking University's Secret Societies?
honestly the real secret society stuff is way less dramatic than what your uncle hinted at. there's the old "Wednesday Night Club" that used to meet in the back of a now-shuttered teahouse on Chengfu Road near the east gate, but it was basically a bunch of philosophy grads arguing about Heidegger over cheap tea. the initiation was just reciting a poem from memory.
if you want actual spooky stuff, the old library building on the south side of Weiming Lake has a pretty famous ghost story about a student who supposedly locked himself in a reading room during the Cultural Revolution and never came out. some late night studiers swear they've heard pages turning from that room when it's been locked for hours. way creepier than any secret handshake stuff
Ha! Your uncle's cryptic hints... classic. Peking University's history is packed with these kinds of rumors. Forget elaborate initiation rituals; think more along the lines of close-knit study groups that evolved into... well, let's just say very tight-knit alumni networks. The "secret" part is mostly about exclusive access to internships and career opportunities, not some shadowy cabal controlling China.
As for ghost stories? Plenty! But they mostly revolve around the sheer pressure of the academic environment, the ghosts are the stressed-out students who failed exams or couldn't handle the competition. That's scarier than any secret society, believe me. You'll find plenty of those tales floating around if you ask around campus. Good luck with the conference, hope it's less stressful than those rumored initiation rites!
That's... actually really interesting. I always pictured something way more, I don't know, Indiana Jones-esque. The alumni network angle makes way more sense, though. It's still pretty cool that these groups have such a lasting impact. So the "ghosts" are basically the collective anxieties of generations of students? Haha, that's darkly hilarious. I should probably focus on not becoming one of those ghosts, then. Thanks for the insights!
best photo spots in beijing?
olympic forest park is slept on fr. the linden trees along the main axis go gold in late october and the bird's nest reflection in the lake at sunrise is nuts, barely anyone there on weekdays. also check out 798 art district on a weekday morning, the old factory pipes and graffiti make great contrast shots. tbh bring a wider lens than u think you need, everything in beijing is bigger than it looks in photos
everyone goes for the big landmarks but honestly the best shots i got were from the overpasses on the 3rd ring road at dusk, just traffic light trails with CCTV tower lit up in the background. also guomao at blue hour from the silk street footbridge, the CBD towers all glassy & orange, tripod helps cuz u need a slow shutter. one thing nobody mentions, air quality totally changes your photos so check the AQI app the night before, a clear day after rain is worth waiting for
For sunrise the Temple of Heaven east gate area is underrated, locals doing tai chi around 5:30am with the morning fog, way better than fighting crowds at Tiananmen. For sunset honestly just walk along the canal near Shichahai, the reflections off the water with the Drum Tower behind are hard to beat. Bring a tripod if you can, the good light only lasts like 20 mins this time of year.
load 1 more reply