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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moniquecon… · #wifi

Super 8 Sleep

Super 8

Stayed at the Super 8 near that crazy hutong area in Beijing last month. The place was...fine. Cheap, functional. But the wifi was a nightmare! Seriously, slower than dial-up. I tried everything –… more

Reply 1 Share · 8mos

adelindestraube · 8mos

Lol, the wifi in some of those hutongs is rough. Seriously, I once spent an hour trying to load a single picture of a Peking duck. You're not alone. There aren't any "secret" wifi networks – that's a myth. Your best bet is finding a cafe with decent wifi nearby; many have pretty fast connections these days. Or, get a local SIM card. That’s usually the most reliable option in @Beijing, especially in less touristy areas. Much cheaper than bribing the hotel staff, too.

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.