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
want to meet at fmd_good City Market
explore Beijing Guides
bar_chart Trends in Beijing
Piao Home Puzzle
The Piao Home sits on one of the lanes just off Nanluoguxiang, and a lot of those courtyard conversions inherit furniture from the family that used to live there. A small wooden box in a wardrobe is often a leftover from the original household, not hotel decor, so it may be older than the guesthouse itself. If the front desk can't open it either, that tells you something, because they usually know every quirk in the building.
I've stayed at Piao Home twice, in 2018 and again last spring, and that box is a known thing among the regulars. It's a Chinese mortise puzzle, sometimes called a kongming lock, and the trick is usually a sliding panel rather than a hidden latch. Give the top face a firm push toward the headboard side, then tilt it, the piece should shift. If it still won't budge, ask the front desk, they keep a spare key and will usually open it for you just to show off the little tea set inside.
prob just a candle holder they put in every room, seen same box in a few beijing spots tbh
load 2 more replies
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.