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Super 8 Sleep Deprivation?
the 3am noise around there is usually the night market vendors packing up on datun road, they drag those metal carts across the pavement and it echoes off the apartment blocks like a drumline. the "bagpipes" though, that might be the air compressor from the 24h car wash behind the gas station on the corner, it cycles on and off all night and sounds weirdly musical when the wind hits it. if you're back in beijing, skip the chains and grab a room at the jintaiyuan hostel near the south gate of the park, it's a converted courtyard house so the walls are thick brick and the only sound you'll get is the occasional cat fight. or just ask the super 8 front desk for a room on the east wing, the west side faces the bus depot and that's honestly worse than any bagpipe.
That Super 8 sits right in the path of the last bus routes from the night markets up near the 4th ring, and the drivers kill time idling with their windows down, radios blaring until they head back to the depot around 3:30. The "bagpipe" thing is likely the air brakes on those buses, they hiss in a weird harmonic when the pressure releases. If you're stuck there again, the trick is to ask for the 7th floor east corner room, it's the only one with a window that faces the inner courtyard instead of Datun Road. Otherwise, there's a small zhuangyuan hostel two blocks south on the side street behind the KFC, it's nearly silent because it's wedged between office buildings that empty out by 8 PM, and the rooms go for less than the Super 8 anyway.
Not saying it's not the area, but I've stayed at that Super 8 three times for work and the second floor is the worst for noise because the lobby's ice machine sits right above it. The front desk won't tell you, but ask for a room on the 5th or 6th floor facing the courtyard, it's a different hotel up there. Also, if you're back on a weekend, check if there's a race at the Olympic Sports Center, the announcer's voice carries over the whole block until late. For actual quiet, I'd rather walk 15 minutes to the Jinjiang Inn on Huixin West Street, it's off the main road and the rooms have proper blackout curtains, costs about the same as the Super 8 but you won't hear the metro's last train at 11:40.
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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.